This title sounds like it should be on a children’s book, but not this time. This time it refers to a virtual member of our family. In 1988 my in-laws built a new house and bought a new living room suit to go in the house. It included three pieces, a sofa, a love seat and an oversized chair. They didn’t have a place for the over sized chair so I took it home with me. Since then this big brown chair has been a fixture in our home. It has been moved 15 times across the country as far west as Amarillo, TX; north to Union City, TN and as far south as Miami, FL. Now it has come to a semi-permanent resting in Dallas, GA.
Why am I telling you about this chair? What is so special about it? Well, beside the fact that it was the first thing Lisa ever climbed on and where I fell asleep during many a 2 a.m. feeding for each of my three children it has, almost consistently for the past 21 years been my sanctuary. Morning after morning for all these years, God and I have met together in this chair. Many times Gary and I have knelt together and asked God to rescue us from feelings of fear, defeat and confusion as we faced “giants” in our lives. In this chair I prayed for my childrens' salvations, which God has graciously given there have been thousands of prayers, thousands of answers, great revelations, and heartfelt repentance all in this chair.
After 21 years it’s beginning to show its age, a spring or two is broken, the cushion is not as cushiony there are thread bare places here and there and the lining on the bottom is torn and sagging, but you know what, it doesn’t really matter to me. As far as I’m concerned I’d like to have this chair until the day I die. Sure I can and have met God in other places but THIS is my sanctuary, that place where nothing else can penetrate when I am one on one with my great and mighty God, the Creator of all things and Sustainer of all things.
While there have been times, like when my kids were babies, that I did little else but sleep in this chair, God, understanding that I am made of clay, has always met with me in one way or another. My hope is, that if you don’t already, that you have a place, a “closet”, where you know you will find God when you look for Him, a place where you can dig in deep and grow in your relationship with your Creator. It can be a challenge but it bears valuable rewards.
Welcome!
- Kathy Unger Marshall
- Dallas, GA, United States
- As a wife, mother of three and a full-time employee Kathy is well acquainted with the struggles to maintain balance, a right attitude, contentment and health in the midst of chaos. All the hectic times in her life, including seven major moves and five minor ones have served to reinforce her dependence on the only anchor she has found to hold her steady through the years; Jesus. Kathy writes of her personal journeys through the pages of scriptures, deserts of dryness, showers of blessings, the darkness of depression and the bright days of joy. She speaks of all she has learned about herself and her God in these journeys with the hope that her experiences will serve to encourage other women, who are fighting these same battles to stand strong.
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