“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal
into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our
past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
~Melody Beattie
In the name of gratitude and truthfulness I’ve decided to post a little piece of reality here once a week. Likely just a single picture. See my original post here.
We cleaned for two days. Everything was spic and nearly span. The photographer came in to take new photos for our house listing. It took him five minutes and he was out the door again. Out the door without an introduction or a handshake; without any of the loving care I put into the first set of listing photos (the ones I took myself).
And I was annoyed that he couldn’t take 10 seconds to reach out and shake my hand or offer an introduction in reply to mine. Of course it’s more personal to me whether this ten-year home of mine sells, of course it’s only a job for him and the more jobs completed the better. But shouldn’t common curtesy be personal to us all?
And I was annoyed that we cleaned so late at night without the hope of an actual showing. Annoyed that within an hour you might not have guessed we’d cleaned at all.
And mostly annoyed that I got so annoyed.
But…
I’m thankful that this house is going to sell (and believing it will happen soon). Thankful for the reminder to smile, and shake hands, and care about relationship – even if it’s only for a passing encounter. And thankful for all the fun things happening here that make this place a mess.
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If you’d like to join in with a reality check of your own, please add a link or note in the comments!
What a rude guy!
Looking forward to see what new adventure you have in front of you 🙂
Rachel, don’t let the actions of someone with no manners take away from your happiness. Be proud of the work you and your family accomplished and say a little prayer for the photoghapher, it sounds like he needs it. 🙂
Much love and wishes for your home to sell soon.
I hope your house sells soon and does this mean you have bought a new one??? I love to buy houses!
Everyone’s got a story, and it is discouraging when others’ stories are masked by a lack of courtesy. This is such a stressful season for you, and I can’t imagine all the work and trying to stay on top of things it is for you with all your little ones. Been thinking of you because I know another set of friends who are in the same season as you. Chin up! There WILL be an end coming soon, and all these moments will be long gone.
But they don’t have to be forgotten. I think it’s always good when we can take instances like this to remind us of, as you mentioned, what is important, and to make sure we’re making priorities in the places that it counts (like relationships). Even if others falter, we can remain clear about who we are, what we want to stand for, and be loving with those who don’t know God’s grace or acceptance and maybe don’t follow the same set of lists we live by. Although so seemingly obvious, we all miss the mark far too often.
Praying for you today- for strength in the storm, for calm in the chaos, for perspective in the fog. May God enrobe you with His great love today and reassure you all will be well and good, and better than you ever asked for, hoped, or conjured up in your imagination. Wish I was there to help, to chat and have tea with, to join you in your everyday world, and you in mine. Hugs.
I don’t have a lot of patience for rude behavior. We were raised with good manners and “By God” we were told to use them. But Emily is correct…everyone has a story and we don’t know what was happening in his life that made him forget his manners. I guess the best we can do is hope that his day got better and someone was able to help him so that he could be nicer to others. Good luck with the house!
Oh sweet Rachel, such a bittersweet time. 10 years is a long time to call someplace home only to have others not acknowledge it at all. I’m sure your house looked beautiful, I hope you have a quick sell.
I would have been annoyed.I would have yelled out to him “you…you…you could have at LEAST shaken my hand!!!!”…and I would have made sure I had jam stuck on there.I probably would have been like you though and so graciously just thought these things.sigh.
Well I hope your house sells soon and then you can be done with these indignities and move on to…decorating!