THE CASE OF THE OBSTINATE DOORMAT

            “Hmmm!  Which rug will I pick?”
Having just moved from a house to a tiny apartment, I thought I would place a welcoming mat inside my front door for guests.  I chose one with rich fall colours: browns, rusts and reds.  Yes, I imagined my hall in those tones, including a gilt mirror and an autumn bouquet on a shiny chestnut table.
            Back at the apartment, I smilingly placed the new mat inside the door.  Ah, how cheerful!  And it would be easy to wash, should muddy shoes defile it.
Errk!  I opened the door to go downstairs, and the mat got stuck. Oh, no!  Now the mat under the door had bent double and was solidly wedged in. I could not open or close the door, nor pull the mat out, nor even cut it out. 
It was getting late. 
“I can’t leave my door open all night!” I moaned.  “I’ll just have to phone the superintendant.”
            I did not want to bother the superintendant over such a small thing, especially as I was new, but felt I had no choice.
A phone call, a long wait since he was out of the building, a very quick remedial tug, and the job was done.  A look of “What was your problem anyway?”, a thank-you and I was safely enclosed in my apartment for the night.  “No more doormats!” I promised.
On impulse, I placed the lightweight mat with its rich harvest colours on my new cherry dinette, under the fall centrepiece of a dark wooden African carved bowl in which I had placed a shock of Indian corn, some imitation fruit and red and yellow fall leaves.
            Surprise indeed!  The mat perfectly complimented the décor I already had.  Its rich colours brought out the deep wine reds and golds of the Indian corn and the other warm fall colours of the fruit and leaves. 
“Almost as if it was planned…” I thought. 
I think it was.  I think that the Lord of all creation and the One who created me in my uniqueness knew exactly which rug I would pick and where it was needed.  He wanted to remind me that He understands me intimately and goes ahead of me, turning my “mistakes” into joy.
…All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJVmodernized)
           
           




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