(Forward by Sheila Gail Landgraf - Short Story by Margaret Read McDonald)
When we first began to share the secrets of transitioning a house into a home in THE HOUSE
DOCTOR I mentioned that your beginning might look quite different from
mine. That is because in this journey called life we all have our own priorities and motivations. We do what we relate to the most, and we do
what is most important to us in the order that we feel is necessary. I am a writer. I don’t just write; I am passionate about
writing. If I’m living something, you
can bet I’m writing about it. That is
just a fact of life for me. I even write about remodeling my home!
Practically EVERYTHING
in my life revolves around story. If
there is no story; then I’m not interested!
I hope you understand that both you and your house have a
story. There are also stories related to
making a house a home, that turn into stories that relate to other transitions in life as
well. These stories must be cherished
and they are screaming out to be told.
We will not omit them here; as a matter of fact; they will be our starting
place! They will help us to put our hearts in order, so that we can then put our homes in order. There will be many more stories along the
way; not just the one that is coming up next.
As I thought of where to begin writing about transitioning our houses into homes, I knew I was
about to write more than just one story with this adventure of turning my house into
a home. It would take MANY stories to
feel any accomplishment. I felt for sure
this task was going to be an on-going, thick-paged novel that would rock my
world for a long time. I needed to have
a foundational story to get me started, something motivational that really
applied to this certain situation of making a house a home. I pondered just what that story might be; and while
I was thinking about it I chanced upon the most perfect tale! The little story proclaimed everything I
wanted to express about this house transformation.
So; in order to keep our priorities perfectly
straight from the very beginning, and just to make sure we start this journey out
on the right foot; I want to share the story with you. It is about the condition of your heart for
your home. If you are going to change
your home, you must have the heart for it. You can't give up and you can't quit. You must understand the meaning of being content in all circumstances. It was The Apostle Paul who said it best in Philippians
4:12; “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in
any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want.”
This, my friend, is the first thing one must
learn about transitioning a house into a home.
It takes having your heart in the right place. You must be content with the fact that where you and your loved ones are; that is home. The conditions do not matter. Conditions are changeable; but the heart must be right and it must know the meaning of true contentment from the very start in order to stir up that feeling in a place, or create an atomosphere for others to enjoy. If
your heart is not right; you will only be spinning your wheels and wasting your
time. Where there is a content heart there will
be love, and where there is love, a good home will always exist. It takes the right heart to turn a house into
a home. Just read this old British fairy
tale, written by Margaret Read McDonald. The message will speak for itself.
The Old Woman Who
Lived in a Vinegar Bottle
(By Margaret Read
McDonald)
There once was an
old woman who lived in a vinegar bottle. Don't ask me why. It was a common old
vinegar bottle. Maybe a little larger than most, but, still, it made for a very
small house. The old woman would often sit on her front steps and complain.
"Oh, what a pity! What a pity pity pity! That I should have to live in a
tiny house such as this. Why, I should be living in a charming cottage with a
thatched roof and roses growing up the walls. That's what I deserve."
One day a fairy
happened to be flying overhead and she heard the old woman's complaint. "I
can do that," thought the fairy. "If that's what she wants...that's
what she'll get." And to the old woman she said, "When you go to bed
tonight, turn round three times and close your eyes. In the morning, just see
what you shall see."
Well, the old woman
thought the fairy was likely batty, but she decided to give it a try. When she
went to bed that night she turned round three times and closed her eyes. When
she opened them again in the morning ... She found herself in a charming
cottage with a thatched roof and roses growing up the walls! "It's just
what I've always wanted," she said. "I know I will be so happy
here." But not a word of thanks did she give to the fairy. The fairy went
north and the fairy went south. The fairy went east and the fairy went west.
She did all the business she had to do. Then she began to think about that old
woman. "I wonder how that old woman is getting along. The one who used to
live in the vinegar bottle. I think I'll just stop round and see."
When she got to the
charming cottage the fairy found the old woman sitting and complaining.
"Oh, what a pity! What a pity pity pity! That I should have to live in a
tiny cottage like this. Why, I should be living in a smart row house with lace
curtains at the windows and a brass knocker on the door! That's what I
deserve!"
"Well,"
said the fairy, "I can do that. If that's what she wants ... that's what
she'll get." And to the old woman she said, "When you go to bed tonight,
turn round three times and close your eyes. When you open them again in the
morning, just see what you shall see."
The old woman
didn't have to be told twice. She went right to bed. She turned round three
times and closed her eyes. When she opened them again in the morning, she found
herself in a smart row house with lace curtains at the windows and a brass
knocker on the door. "It's just what I always dreamed of!" she said.
"I know I'll be so happy here!" But not a word of thanks did she give
to the fairy. The fairy went north and the fairy went south. The fairy went
east and the fairy went west. She did all the business she had to do. Then she
began to think about that old woman. "I wonder how that old woman is
getting along. The one who used to live in the vinegar bottle. I think I'll
just stop round and see."
When she got to the
smart row house, there sat the old woman in her brand new rocking chair ...
rocking and complaining. "Oh, what a pity! What a pity pity pity! That I
should have to live in this row house with common neighbors on either side.
Why, I should be living in a mansion on a hilltop with a manservant and a
maidservant to do my bidding. That's what I deserve!"
When the fairy
heard this, she was much amazed. But she said, "Well, if that's what she
wants ... That's what she'll get." And to the old woman she said,
"When you go to bed tonight, turn around three times and close your eyes.
When you open them again in the morning, just see what you will see!"
The old woman
turned round three times and closed her eyes. When she opened them again the
next morning ... She found herself in a mansion on a hilltop with a manservant
and a maidservant to do her bidding! "This is just what I've always
deserved," said the old woman. "I know I will be so happy here!"
But not a word of thanks did she give to the fairy. The fairy went north and
the fairy went south. The fairy went east and the fairy went west. She did all
the business she had to do. Then she began to think about that old woman. "
I wonder how that old woman is getting along. The one who used to live in the
vinegar bottle. I think I'll just stop round and see."
But when she came
to the mansion on the hilltop she found the old woman in her velvet chair ...
sitting and complaining! "Oh, what a pity! What a pity pity pity! That I
should have to live in such a drafty old mansion. Why, I should be living in
the palace. Oh, yes, I should be the queen with musicians to entertain me and
courtiers to bow to me. That's what I deserve."
"Good
heavens," thought the fairy. "Will she never be content? Well, if
that's what she wants ... that's what she'll get." And to the old woman
she said, "When you go to bed tonight, turn round three times and close
your eyes. When you open them again in the morning, just see what you shall
see!"
The old woman could
not wait to go to bed that night. She turned round three times and closed her
eyes. When she opened them again the next morning, she found herself in the
palace and she was the queen, with musicians to entertain her and courtiers to
bow to her. "Oh, yes! This is what I've always dreamed of. I know I will
be so happy here!" But not a word of thanks did she give to the fairy. The
fairy went north and the fairy went south. The fairy went east and the fairy
went west. She did all the business she had to do. Then she began to think
about that old woman. "I wonder how that old woman is getting along ...
the one who used to live in the vinegar bottle. I think I'll just stop round
and see."
When she got to the
palace there sat the old woman on her throne ... sitting and complaining!
"Oh what a pity! What a pity pity pity! That I should be queen of such an
insignificant little kingdom. Why I should be Empress of the Universe. Oh, yes,
Empress of the Universe! That's what I really deserve!"
"Well!"
said the fairy. "There is just no pleasing some people! If that's what she
wants, that's what she'll not get!" And to the old woman she said,
"When you go to bed tonight, turn round three times and close your eyes.
When you open them again in the morning, just see what you shall see."
The old woman
hurried to bed that night. She turned round three times and closed her eyes.
When she opened them again the next morning, she found herself right back in
her vinegar bottle! "And there she shall stay!" exclaimed the fairy.
"If she can't be happy here, she won't be happy there. For, after all,
happiness comes from the heart! Not from the house!"
Teach us to count our days. 
