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One.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

My brief relationship with Mr. and Mrs. C began a few weeks ago.

I was impressed from the first phone call: Mrs. C told me upfront that they had prayed exhaustively about whether their disabled child’s needs were best being met at home, or whether their child would be better off living in a facility. They were diligently seeking the Lord’s plan, she said, because they were devout Christian believers.

I loved that her faith was so important to her that she told me, a complete stranger to her, about it in casual conversation, and I felt a sort of bond with her instantly.

Several phone calls passed between us since that first one, and it was no surprise when I met them in person for the first time that I liked them immediately. She, sweet and happy, chatty and friendly, and he, rugged and strong, silent and decisive. Almost always its mom who collapses in a puddle during facility tours, but it was he, the strong silent one, who broke down and cried this time.

They made mention of their faith in Jesus Christ at various points in our conversation, not in a deliberate, forced way that called attention to it, but as if faith was central to every last one of their thoughts.

The extreme love and dedication to their child was evident in the multitude of questions they asked, and at the end of the tour Mr. C shook my hand and gave me their unequivocal decision.

Mrs. C nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Without ever consulting each other: he spoke, she agreed… wholeheartedly, peacefully, happily.

I pondered on the unity of their decision all day….. how he knew without asking her, and how she answered without ever being asked.

There was no control, no authority, no manipulation, no caving under pressure; no one bossing, no one submitting. The answer miraculously passed between them, unspoken.

~~~~~
Max Lucado sent me an email devotional today called The Wedding Prayer. It read like this:

Create in us a love, O Lord.
An eternal love …
Your love.
A love that forgives
any failure,
spans
any distance,
withstands
any tempest.
Create in us a love, O Lord.
A new love.
A fresh love.
A love with the tenderness
of a lamb,
the grandeur
of a mountain,
the strength
of a lion.
And make us one. Intimately one.
As you made a hundred colors into one sunset,
A thousand cedars into one forest,
and countless stars into one galaxy …
make our two hearts as
one,
Father, forever …
that you may be praised, Father,
forever.

~~~~~
Max’s email today reminded me again about Mr. and Mrs. C and the oneness existing between the two of them.

That usually isn’t the case: when it comes to the decision to admit their child to a facility, mom and dad often disagree. Mom cries and pleads, dad insists. Almost always. Its a life-alteringly difficult decision, and mommas never separate from their babies easily.

The difference between Mr. and Mrs. C and all the others was that their faith had somehow made them ONE.

Having failed monstrously myself, I’m fascinated with what it is that makes some relationships great, and what makes some of them miserable failures. I make mental notes about the happy ones I see; in this day and age happy, successful relationships are like unicorns, miraculous and exceedingly rare, and I want to know how those couples make it work.

After meeting Mr. and Mrs. C today I’m adding them to my role model list. Someday I want what they have. I want the faith in God that they have that oozed from their every sentence.

Only God can do that miraculous thing that turns two people into one.

And the words of Max Lucado’s prayer make that sound awfully appealing.

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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