Foreclosed

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; Matt: 6:19

The blue sticker on the door was the first thing I noticed as we pulled into the driveway of the house our realtor was showing us. A closer look revealed the sticker to read: “Bank Owned, Foreclosed.” A sadness immediately came over me as I wondered who was this family that had lost their beautiful home. I felt like an intruder as we walked through the rooms, where I envisioned a family had seen happier days.
Eventually we decide to purchase the home. We made many cosmetic changes to the house, but try as I might to rid the specter of those who had previously lived here, it seemed as if they lingered. I felt there was a sadness that hung in the air which we could not paint our way out of, no matter how many coats we applied.
One day our contractor discovered the name of the family that had lived here. I am not sure why but it made me feel better to have at least a name to put upon these ghostly figures that in my mind roamed about. One sleepless night I went to my computer and typed in their names, and suddenly there they were, right in front of me. Pictures of the family laughing, celebrating birthdays, Christmas’s and life in the house I now occupied. There was the kitchen, the family room, the lanai, different in decor, but none the less, the very same home. A further search reveals the Fathers occupation was internet sales. I surmise he must have been a victim of the economic down turn. Now I have a better understanding of how they  lost a home they so obviously loved. Remembering many had thought those good times would never end.
A few days later while in the garage checking out the possibility of reusing a book case that had formerly stood in the kitchen, I saw some writing on the very top:

“The memory of this home will live on as an impression of love that is a piece of my heart. The day I moved out.” JTZ 7/4/10

I choked. I had heard that she came back a year ago to take out the last of their possessions. She must have pinned that to the top of a very tall bookcase, not necessarily for others to see, but as a way to say good-bye to something she had loved, and now was gone forever.
There are no more ghosts in my home. It at last feels like mine. But I am conscious that this is only my temporary home, and I will see it as a place to live while on my way to my real home, the place where my heart is.

“But lay up for yourselves treasures’ in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is
there your heart will be also”. Matt 6 20-21