if these walls could talk

Do you have old paneling in your life?

I hate paneling. I've always hated it. Funny thing is, my husband for years has loved a variety of paneling - from the station wagon he drove in the 90's with paneling down the side to the real wood paneling in our kitchen. He has a fine appreciation for the stuff. Not me, no variety of paneling has made it to my A-list. I don't differentiate or value any one paneling. I hate them all.

Despite our paneling differences, my husband and I have found common ground in our living room with the panel lined walls. We both eagerly anticipate the days when that old paneling comes down and a fresh coat of paint brings new life into the living room. The change has felt needed for years.

Well it did feel needed until a while ago. As I sat in our living room a friend commented on the feel of our house. "Your house is comfortable and inviting. There is no pretense here" I don't remember the exact words but similar sentiment has been mentioned by a number of friends as long as we’ve lived in this old farmhouse.

Farmhouse Paneling Circa 1970

As I listened to our friend’s comments while staring at this hideous paneling across the room from me,  I suddenly realized the value of the paneling. The walls aren't fancy and nothing about them excites the eye. There are no delightful colors or streams of photographs lining the walls. Just a 1960's cardboard headshot of Jesus in a weathered white plastic frame now yellowed with age. On most occasions Jesus slips down in the frame so an inch of paneled wall appears inside the frame with him. The living room walls have been the same for 50 years. Do you know a room like that?

I’ve sat wondering what would happen when the paneled walls are changed. Will our home be less inviting? Will we mentally move to the new and forget about the old? The paneling draws out old memories and joys that happened here for decades. It creates a space for storytelling and conversation about this old place. Will they all be lost as the walls are torn down? Will the stories change? Does a bit of history crumble?

What do you have in your life that’s like my paneling? I don’t want the feel of the room or the memories or the stories to be lost when the paneling leaves. And it is going soon because despite the sentimental and relational value I still hate all paneling! When we rip out the old and the drab, our story changes. And when it does, let’s be sure our old memories and stories don’t disappear just like the paneling.

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody