It began as a small project. Tim would build a simple sandbox for our oldest daughter’s first birthday. It was a basic square sandbox with seats on the corners. He did a great job. The finished product held sand and contained hours of fun.
Then we decided we wanted a swingset and clubhouse. It didn’t need to be fancy, but the logical thing to do was build it around the existing base of the sandbox. Tim had to make a few adjustments to the clubhouse plans to allow for the existing dimensions of the sandbox, but he successfully added a clubhouse, slide, ladders, climbing rope and ladder, and an extension on which we could place a light swing.
It wasn’t long before our family grew and the single baby swing wasn’t enough. In fact, our house wasn’t enough either. It was time to move, and the clubhouse was coming with us. Tim partially deconstructed it – enough to transport across town – and reconstructed it, adding some renovations in the process. He replaced the top beam with a longer and stronger piece of wood and built a new, large A-frame support leg. Now we could have more than one daughter swinging into the sky at a time.
The playgym brought hours of enjoyment to our family. The girls built sandcakes and sandcastles and slid down the slide through sunshine, sprinklers, leaves and snow. They soared high on the swings and hosted many picnics and read for hours in the roofed clubhouse. They restained it by themselves one year while Tim and I were staining the fence, and they helped Tim make minor mendings as the weather took its toll.
Years earlier, when I looked out the window at Tim standing between a truck full of lumber and a simply sandbox, I wasn’t sure what the end result would be. Sometimes we just have to get started and build something. As we make adjustments and see the possibilities, the end result takes shape in our minds. But it’s still just the beginning: the resulting memories cannot be foreseen or planned.
What are you building today?
Where and in whom are you investing?
What are your expectations?
Dare to dream. God’s plans likely differ from yours. His blueprints, journals, and photo albums are better.
Several years ago, we talked to the girls about giving the playgym away. It was still in good shape, so it made sense for someone else to benefit from it. They agreed. One of my best friend’s husband helped Tim take it apart again. It’s been reassembled in their backyard. They’ve renovated it yet again, and now their son can make his own memories on it. The building continues.
Solomon began building. (2 Chronicles 3:2)