Life Coaching: Life Is Like a Potholder

I am a serial potholder hoarder. My potholders are so old and stained, I am ashamed of them. And of course, I didn’t want to buy new ones because I’m cheap and no one really sees them except me. I don’t even bring them out when I have guests, ten thousand failed meals stained that they are. And I just keep piling them in my potholder basket I keep for such a purpose. And I not only keep my own old potholders, but Lord help you if you being a potholder to my house. You will never see it again, because they somehow find their way into my potholder dungeon.

I recently cleaned out my potholder bin, and when I saw just how many potholders I’d accumulated over the years, I was mortified. Pot holders with holes, potholders with gravy stains, potholders with the stuffing poking out, potholders that had never been used (because they were the “good ones, you see), and my personal favorite, seasonal potholders (yes, that is actually a thing). I couldn’t believe I’d accumulated that many of those things, and now my bin actually boasts a brand new phenomenon—clean, unused potholders. So, here’s my new dilemma…I don’t want to use them because I’m an iffy cook at best. At worse, I’m a Gordon Ramsey nightmare. I’m either brilliant or a dud—no in between, much like I live the rest of my life. I know there is an epic pot holder failure coming and it’s just a matter of time before I either catch one on fire (yes, I’ve done that) or drop it in the middle of my crock pot full of chili.

I started thinking about all my potholders today and the ones I’ve had over the years. Some are rough and well used, others brand new with nary a hint of grease on them. Our lives are like that. Sometimes we get a little beat up, broken or stained. Other days, we skate through like a piglet on ice. But those holes and burned places mean we were living life. Even though it may have knocked the stuffing out of us a time or two, we were right out there, face in the wind, rain pouring down on us, battered and bleeding, but by golly, we were still breathing. We were waiting and hoping for that turning point when our lives would take a turn for the better. And when we come to the end of our lives and it’s time for us to see Jesus face-to-face, all of those gravy stained, grease filled days will be at an end. And we’ll be like those shiny, new fully functional potholders. It means we have been exposed to the fire and we came though it, not unscathed, but useful and necessary parts of God’s plan.

I am so thankful for all my “potholder” friends! I love every single one of them! They’ve lived lives, they’ve helped others, they’ve LIVED! God bless! Maranatha! Carpe Diem.

These are two of my new potholders I just bought for fall!