This is a picture of the beautiful, new Williams-Sonoma baking pans my mom bought for me.
This is a picture of the baking pan I currently use.
I’m not even sure how this particular baking sheet came into my possession.
The Happy Hubby seems to think that it might have been a part of his meager collection of kitchen items that were brought into our marriage.
One thing’s for sure.
That baking pan has seen many a Totino’s Pizza, Mickey-shaped chicken nuggets and break and bake cookies.
The question that I am asking myself this New Year is – why do I still use that horrifyingly disgusting and warped old cookie sheet when I have two new shiny ones from a super fancy kitchen store gathering dust in our cabinets?
Why can’t I scrap the old baking pan and enjoy the wonder (and glorious uniform browning) of my new ones?
I am the same way about quite a few things in our Happy Home.
Do you see those luxurious, fluffy white towels in the photo above?
Would you believe that they have NEVER BEEN USED and they are gifts from our wedding registry 8 YEARS AGO?!
I can’t even show you a picture of the dilapidated-same-towels-we-used-in-college that are hanging on the back of our bathroom door.
Something is wrong here.
I seem to have closets and cabinets full of shiny new things that I can’t bring myself to use because…
Because why?
Is it because I don’t want to ruin them?
Is it because I think I’m not good enough to use such nice things?
Is it because I like familiarity and change kind of makes me want to hibernate with the bears scares me a bit?
It seems ridiculous not to use the lovely gifts that have been given to us…
Is this anything like how I handle the sin in my life?
Often times the Lord tries to give me something new and I cling to the old for the very same reasons why I still have an ugly baking pan.
I don’t feel I deserve it.
I don’t want to mess things up.
I, quite honestly, don’t like change.
BUT His gifts are always beautiful – always best – always exactly what we need to grow and move forward.
Case in point: Ever since I had the Happy Buddy, I’ve never known fear as I do now. Something about having a child suddenly transformed me into this anxiety-ridden worry-wart.
Especially concerning his health.
What if I don’t feed him the right things and he becomes malnourished?
What if this 3rd fever he has had in the last 6 weeks is an indicator of some horrible disease?
What if that handle on the freezer case at Wal-Mart that he just licked is going to make him so sick he might need to be hospitalized?
And now with this pregnancy…
What if my recently diagnosed hypothyroidism affects the baby’s brain development?
A person can’t live like this without it slowly turning them into an old baking sheet (not to mention how it effects the people in your life – I mean, how can I deprive my sweet Happy Hubby of such lovely non-old-smelling towels?).
And then there’s God.
My gracious Savior trying to hand me a clean baking sheet life without fear and I can’t seem to accept it because fear is what I know.
My fear makes me feel like I can control things – if I take the new baking sheet that He is offering, surely I will ruin it.
But I won’t – not when it’s His new thing.
Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
And 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
My prayer is that 2012 will be the year I choose to get rid of the old stuff in my life (whether it be towels or fear) and receive the new things with humble joy.
When that old feeling of fear tries to creep in, maybe I’ll just bat it away with my sparkling new baking sheet.
So, dear Happy Home Friends, are there any ‘old’ areas in your life that need to be fully surrendered in exchange for the abundant life Jesus promises?
Because the fear-free, perfectly browned cookie life is one I want to walk in!
AND, Pinterest (among a million other things) has taught me how to keep my cookie sheets always looking new – check it out HERE. 🙂
Happy New Year, dear Happy Home Friends. xoxo
Thank you for the thoughts on out with the old. You are right about change, it can be good but it still is scary, but we do have a great God who knows better than us what we need and good is what he has in mind for us. I too am afraid of change and fret over my children and the fact that something bad could happen to them. I pray so much that I can gracefully let them grow up and allow God to write their story, it is theirs not mine even if it does mingle with my story. I also try to remember that I want to do my best and can trust God to fill in the gaps. I am thankful that God loves me and my family so much more than I can even imagine. We are thankful for you, our Happy Home Fairy.
I absolutely loved this post! I am moving from a staff graphic designer at my church to being at home again with 3 teenagers at this New Year and it has been a fright. The Lord has also been encouraging me to sit down and write music again. Your words this morning were just what I needed to know I’m not alone in facing new things in my 40’spresent and that I don’t have to be afraid of change.
Thanks and blessings on your happy home!
Hmmm, this is EXACTLY what my pastor preached about this morning. Do you think Jesus is trying to tell me something??
Love this post!! Out with the old is my motto for the New Year. I will certainly read the post on keeping cookie sheets new too! Thanks! I also had hypothyroidism w/ my 2nd pregnancy. Everything turned out fine! I love your site! You had such fun ideas!!!
Wow, what a wonderful post! I am guilty of hanging on to things and ideas myself.
I know Jesus wants me to uplift myself and other stay at home/ work at home Moms ( he told me not to discount my role as mother one Sunday at church and the emotion was so powerful I wept). I want to honor that message with my blog… but that would mean change. I’m praying for guidance and know he will show me the way; afterall, he has provided a way for me to be home for my girls and hubby for over 12 years.
Happy New Year and a heartfelt congratulations on your pregnancy. All will be well!
Love this & definitely needed it! The Lord sent me a message through your blog, IRS just confirmation! Congrats on your happy bundle on the way!
I just came over to your blog via pinterest and this is a very good post. Thank you for writing it and sharing it and now break out some bubble bath and go use those beautiful towels! “Moth and rust destroy . . . ” Kelly
Reuse your old cookie pan! Use paint or modpodge and make a new magnetic creation – Pinterest might help with that, too!