This Old House
by Miriam Kook
Copyright 1998
It's not enough to offer your children material comfort- they need to know the God who loves them and gives them hope because "troubles and tears" will come and material possessions cannot take you through the rough days. The house my parents built for me, though built with love and good wishes for me, was built on sand and when my father's death washed the goodness of that house away, I was left with nothing. It still hurts to remember my New Jersey home with the sandbox and the swing that I had to leave behind in the aftermath of my father's death. But I am learning to say goodbye to that home and look forward to the heavenly mansion God has built for me that will never rust, fade or be taken away from me through death.
This old house, built on sand
The land my parents gave me
Staring out this window once last time
Flowers and weeds, long-buried needs
This old house, dark and small
I believe God saw it all
Memories of willow trees
The sandbox and the swing
But disturbing pictures lie below
Troubles and tears, mountainous fears
This old house heard each cry
Now it's time to say goodbye
Tear it down, tear it down, let it go
Forgive her, forget him, Jesus knows
Out of the pain He's building my life
Out of the rubble and the strife
He's making me strong, it won't be long
Till this old house is no more
And what will one day be
I do not have eyes to see
I have to believe, I have to receive
That mansion God builds for me, mine throughout eternity