What does it mean to restore?

[setting my timer for five minutes…]

My husband worked for an insurance company for a few years, helping homeowners restore their homes. He got to write big checks to help them restore their homes after damages.

Then that season ended and for a few years he worked for a restoration construction company, where he helped the customers use those insurance checks to rebuild their homes.

The restoration business was wonderful and terrible. He came home telling stories of losses and damages, some crazy people he had to deal with, and some wonderful customers who gave him homemade jellies and invited his whole family to come and visit.

But he got to see people in hard times.

Restoration has to come after some sort of damage.

Some people were so grateful.

Some people were so petty and mean.

The ones who lost more seemed to be the most grateful. They were thankful they got out with their lives. They were grateful that someone came to help put things back together.

The ones who had minor losses sometimes seemed to be the most difficult to work with. The small damages were an inconvenience–and everything to do with them were an inconvenience–including the ones coming to help.

The one who has been restored much loves much.

And the one who has little to restore and replace doesn’t always seem so grateful.

What I appreciated about the restoration process, at least as it related to property claims, is that the restoration was not just to bring things back to the way they were. It improved things.

Tree fell through your roof? You get a brand new roof! Dishwasher exploded? You get a new kitchen floor and cabinets! You don’t just get the old stuff cleaned up and patched and made to do. It’s better than before. New. Clean. Freshly painted.

[ahh, the timer rang! My 5 minutes is up!]

Let’s tie this up in a nice little bow before I close.

God doesn’t just fix things the way they were.

When his grace gets involved, his restoration is always greater than the first. And everything he touches he puts grace into. So the things that need restoration–when he is finished with them, they will be better than before. New. Clean. Freshly painted.

When he restores, he makes all things new.

 

I’m linking up with Five Minute Friday today. I know–it’s Saturday. Almost Sunday. But life, y’all.

Feel free to join – it’s a fun group of inspirational writers who write for five minutes (set the timer!) and free write about a particular one-word prompt. It’s amazing to read the various takes, some humorous, some profound, some conversational – all stemming from one word. This week’s prompt is RESTORE.