Back
in the 1980s we lived in New York City. Our kids ranked in ages elementary
school level down to baby.
It was
during this time I learned people discarded things at curbs on garbage days.
This may sound strange—that I didn’t realize this until then, but we had lived
in a rural setting prior to this with a burning barrel and mission truck that
collected our trash. We didn’t even have a curb until we moved into the
City.
I
admit it. I liked finding furnishings and sometimes toys on curbs. Some of
these were nicer than what we already had (or didn’t have).
Our
kids, however, hated when their mom exclaimed, “Oh wow,” swerved right, and hit
the brakes. It didn’t take them long to learn what that meant, and they’d
exclaim, “Uh oh! Duck!”
What!
My kids weren’t thrilled with their mother’s discoveries and savings? Hmph!
Much to their chagrin, that didn’t stop me.
I
remember as a girl always wishing I had a canopy bed once I’d seen one. This
carried over to the time when we had a daughter. If only we could get her a
canopy bed! Dream on, Sarah.
We
pulled out of our driveway one day, turned the corner and my eyes spotted it! Lo
and behold! It was beautiful! Okay. It wasn’t that beautiful, but
it was better than anything I could’ve imagined. A white canopy bed head- and
foot-boards!
I had
to get it, swerved right, hit the brakes, and heard my kids mutter, “Uh oh!
Duck!”
I
didn’t care, and they needed to be unwilling partners in getting this bed home.
It wouldn’t fit in the car, so I told the kids, “Roll down your windows, and,
boys, you can help me get the two parts on the roof of the car.
They
wanted to die yet did help while making sure their faces weren’t turned in view
of the oncoming traffic.
We got
the 2 large pieces up there yet lacked anything with which to secure them. So,
I gave orders: “You’re all going to reach up outside your windows—me too—and we
will drive slowly to get this home.”
There
were audible groans, but the hands went out the windows and held on tight. I
turned on the flashers.
We
were very close to home, but we were on a major 4-lane road and couldn’t turn
around at that point. I needed to drive around the block which ended up being
multiple blocks before one-ways went the right way to get us home.
Our
kids survived, and our daughter got her canopy bed—the one I dreamed of more
than she ever did. Oh well. I cleaned it and gave it new life with a fresh coat
of paint.
A
beautiful bed, and it was free!
Another
wonderful find happened when I was on my way to pick up the kids from school. I
happened to glance down a side street and spotted an antique treadle sewing
machine table, complete with sewing machine. My heart likely skipped a beat! I
couldn’t stop to get it then because the silly school had a rule that parents
were supposed to be on time to pick up their kids. (Imagine that.)
I
actually prayed that item would still be there by the time I collected the 3
kids and got the baby back into his carseat, etc. I told the kids, “We need to
hurry! There’s something I’ve got to get! And I’m going to need your help. I
think it’s heavy.
They
looked wide-eyed at each other and chorused, “Uh oh…”
I pulled up to the sewing machine and table
the same minute another person did. I admit, I wanted to dash over and grab
hold of it! But my heart wouldn’t let me. Instead, I said, “What a find, huh?”
“It’s
great! I’ve always loved this type thingy,” she said, “but I’m going to pass on
it.”
I
think I must’ve grinned ear to ear at that moment!
“Can I
help you get it into your car?” she asked.
Oh,
how happy our kids were—not!—as they sheepishly peeked over the edge of
the car doors.
I took
that treasure home and gave it new life.
Free!
An antique t’boot!
Many
years later (while I still “honed” my curb shopping skills) I took a long walk
with son, Stephen (the baby in the last find), who rode his bike ahead of me
back and forth so it was sort of like walking together but totally not. We
didn’t live in New York City anymore. Instead, we lived in upstate New York on
a lovely hillside with houses spread far apart from one another.
When
we were about a mile from home, I spotted it! My heart skipped beats, I’m sure!
Now, first let me explain what one of my weaknesses is (oh, I don’t have
many—haha): Doll houses! Yes, I adore them and am sure if I was
wealthy, I’d have a room in my house for all my dreamed-of doll houses. Good
thing I’m not wealthy, but…
…how
could I leave this lovely Colonial on the trash heap? I went to grab it.
“Oh
no, Mom! You’re not gonna, are ya?” Stephen questioned, straddling his bike,
rolling it a distance from me.
“It’ll
be prime real estate when I’m done with it, and your nephews and niece will
enjoy it!” I got it down. “I can handle it. You go ahead home.”
“Then I’m
outa here!” Stephen zoomed off to save his reputation from this affluent street
where some of his schoolmates lived.
I was
only half way home when I tired from carrying my curb find and was perspiring
like a water fountain.
Just
then a car pulled up. Our chiropractor! “Need a lift?”
“Sure,”
I replied, this time me being the slightly embarrassed one realizing our
doc only bought his kids top-notch toys. “I couldn’t pass this up. I’m a sucker
for doll houses, and it will increase in property value with a face-lift, etc.”
“That
was a good one in its day!” He said and dropped me home with my fantastic find.
Free!
And I so enjoyed that project as did our grandchildren who played with it for
several years before I “put it on the market.” SOLD!
We found other freebies over the
years; but the canopy bed, sewing machine & table, and doll house? Prizes!
Sometimes
great things can be free. But there’s another “thing” that’s free that
surpasses anything on earth ever.
Salvation!
New life in Christ!
I
“picked” that when I was 12 years old. I grew up knowing about God’s free gift,
how Jesus died on the cross for my sins, how He rose again in 3 days proving He
truly was God, and how He is preparing a place in Heaven for all who believe in
Him as their Lord and Savior.
Yes, I
knew all that but didn’t accept Him into my heart until that fall day
when I knelt beside my bed and told Jesus I was a sinner, I was sorry for the
wrong I’d done, I believed He was Who He said He was, and I wanted Him to come
into my heart and life.
Free!
The best thing ever ever ever! How could new life with eternal life included be
anything less!
I hope
you who read this blog post know Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If not, I pray
you’ll come to realize your need of His free gift and do as I did when I was
12. It’s not hard. In fact, it’s easy—the best, greatest gift!
And it
never comes with a price tag. Jesus paid that with His blood when He died on
Calvary. There He cried out “Tetelestai!” It is finished. Paid in full!
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength
indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in
Me thine all in all.”
(Refrain) Jesus paid it all, all to Him I
owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it
white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r and
Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots and melt the
heart of stone. (Refrain)
For nothing good have I where-by Thy grace
to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white in the blood
of Calv’ry’s Lamb. (Refrain)
And when, before the throne, I stand in
Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,” my lips
shall still repeat. (Refrain)
(from the hymn, Jesus Paid It All,
by Elvina M. Hall, 1865, public domain)
Freely, Freely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1ndKgU36I&list=RDBS1ndKgU36I&start_radio=1
#free #curbshopping #embarrassingyourkids
#greatfinds #deals
#salvation #freegift #bloodbought #God
#Jesus
Photo
Credit: istock.com
(…and,
yes, I think it’s funny there are FREE trash images!)