Love knows no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that stands when all else has fallen.”―
Elisabeth Elliot, Let Me Be a Woman If the truth be known, I'm usually a step ahead when it comes to dreaming up projects for Mark and the boys in our home. Being that I spend soooooo much time here, I suppose I dream too much! Whatever the excuse, I am always very encouraged (or should I say invigorated? shhhh!) when PROGRESS takes place!
Well, I decided it's time to share the sequel to a project we started last year!! You ask, 'Last year?'
Yes, I'll admit, in my quest for giving the children something fun, but progressive, to do one day last summer, I called Mark at work and begged him to give us permission to remove the east kitchen wall so we'd have an open view and passageway to the hallway. Well, I'll admit, he wasn't real excited, nor ready, but I assured him "we'll remove only the drywall, we won't disturb the electrical lines, and the view will encourage our vision for unifying the entire utility, hallway, and kitchen area. It'll be fun!" Although a little reluctant, he said 'OK', and the beginning of that story is
here.
Now, one year later, I am thrilled to share the rest of the story. After one year of passing through the skeletal remains of that east wall, the bones have all been removed and given a proper burial! RIP!
It was a recent June morning when Mark and the boys began the day by running to Lowes to purchase long boards. Since they planned to remove quite a large portion of a load bearing wall, they needed a substantial beam, the new lintel or header, to support the upstairs outer wall of our house and John's bedroom!
There were also tools to acquire. We're blessed to have a brother-in-law who owns a restoration business...
CCI Restoration Services (follow the link by clicking the name of the business). Wilbur, a godly man, was gracious to offer Mark counsel and encouragement, free of charge, as well as the adjustable jacks needed for the project.
Thank you, Wilbur!!Just a few days prior, Mark found the timely blessing of a piece of thick steal grating from a trash pile. God's gifts are perfect! The combination of all these necessary provisions would be used to accomplish taking the old wall down and installing the new lintel and posts in it's place!
But first, they began the task of creating the lintel. I thought they'd purchase it at the store and bring it home. /:-o ... Not so!!
Not one, not two, but three different pieces of wood of varying thickness were purchased to create the lintel. After cutting the wood to size, work began to join and reinforce the union of these layers of wood. One layer was glued to another, then nails were driven into the beam to further strengthen its oneness.
While watching this work take place, I couldn't help but remember what our late pastor, Dr. Homer G. Lindsay, Jr., used to say about the marriage bond...
"Jesus said, 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder' (Mark 10:7-9)".
I'll never forget his illustration of this truth... The union of two individuals are likened to two boards glued together. To attempt to sever them would result in the devastation of splintering layers remaining one against the other, and scarring the integrity and function of the wood.
Like our marriage union, the lintel was created to endure!While the lintel lay stretched across the driveway under the sun, Mark and the boys brought the jacks in for positioning.
With a few twists and turns, the jacks would serve as temporary support for the weight above the wall they were removing.
Then the newly constructed lintel and posts, designed for the purpose of bearing the load together, could eventually be set in to place.
This was not a project Mark considered lightly, but when this day came, he was ready. He'd captured photos in the attic, computed formulas on paper, drafted sketches (from every angle imaginable), rerouted electrical lines for switches and outlets, but most importantly, allowed time to consider, organize, construct, and put to practice the work that needed to take place.
When all was set in place, it was time to sever the studs.
I could almost hear the drumroll...
Then, one after another, the studs were pulled away, and...
piece by piece, the previous support system was removed.
So far, so good...
The bottom plate came up pretty easy also.
Reason for celebration...John's room didn't fall. It's still in place!
The jacks are bearing the load alone!
We listened out for creaks, and watched for cracks in the ceiling, but there were none! /: p... Whew~
Thank you Jesus~
Quickly and methodically, the beam went up...I'm not sure how I missed capturing it!! : (
"There's no doubt, it's strong and substantial!"
My Beloved, House Builder, Mark~
It would be another day before the jacks could be removed completely, for there were still some very important pieces of wood to fill the gap between the lintel and the top plate.
Believe it or not, small pieces of seemingly insignificant pieces of wood were evenly spaced alongside another the entire length of the lintel. These pieces of wood, what Mark calls 'soldier studs', would prove to be critical in this project. Set in place, they distribute the weight of the upstairs wall to the lintel and posts below. They are burden bearers!! Teamed together, they are the strength needed to bridge the gap. Their responsibility is great, adding much to the integrity of their union with the lintel and posts!! One soldier stud could not bear the burden alone. It would crumble to pieces under the load!
Paul shares in I Corinthians many small ways to transfer God's great love to one another and others. This kind of love bears, believes, hopes, and endures!
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(I Corinthians 13:4-7).
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary13:4-7 Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and effects of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct had, in many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness; it does not desire or seek its own praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Not that charity destroys all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man should neglect himself and all his interests. But charity never seeks its own to the hurt of others, or to neglect others. It ever prefers the welfare of others to its private advantage. How good-natured and amiable is Christian charity! How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer.
