"Show Ready"

A new chapter has begun in my household – we’re moving. With one kiddo in college and another that soon will be, it’s time to downsize! For those who noticed I didn’t blog last week that was why. We were getting our house “show ready.”

If you’ve ever sold your house or toured one that was staged properly, you probably have a good understanding of what I’m talking about. Being “show ready” is making your house cleaner than any normal person would keep it, scaling down your personal momentos, and giving the impression of being comfortable and welcoming without actually looking like you live there. Kind of. It’s complicated.

Living in a “show ready” environment is a delicate balance. You live there, but you can’t live like you normally would. You have a schedule yet need to be flexible to alter it at a moment’s notice. You can keep your decor but only a little so they can still imagine their own. Once you have the house looking like it should, you then must maintain it – all the time. It’s pretty stressful!

This reminds me of a few people I’ve met over the years. They seem to live in a constant state of “show ready.” They put their best face forward all the time. Anytime they’re asked how things are going their answer is always, “Fine.”  They go along with whatever you want without ever voicing an opinion. They seem to live for the approval of others, thinking that if people really knew them they probably wouldn’t approve at all. Can you relate? Have you ever tried to live “show ready?”

I’m doing all of this with one goal in mind – sell my house. So I trust the wisdom of my fabulous realtor who knows more about all of this than I do. But we don’t have to live our lives that way. God doesn’t intend for us to. Humans are messy, complicated creatures who are anything but “show ready.” And that’s okay. We can show people our mess. We can admit when we don’t have the answers. We can be honest when things aren’t fine.

God had one goal in mind too – make us more like Him. Just as I’ve turned to someone with knowledge I don’t have, God provides direction for us as well. We can allow our lives to look more like Jesus and less “show ready.” People around us don’t need to think we’re perfect; they need to see we’re following God. Only then will they buy into what you have.

Be blessed,

Jennifer

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2