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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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January 10, 2015

God Won’t Gong You

Do you remember ‘The Gong Show’?

The_Gong_Show_logo

It was kind of the ‘American Idol’ of the late ’70’s, early ’80’s with one major difference. Just imagine Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. listening to each contestant and then instead of simply deciding whether or not they would earn a golden ticket, they would decide if the contestant would be allowed to complete their audition or if they were so absolutely horrible that one of the judges simply couldn’t stand it any longer and must pick up a big stick and strike it on a giant ‘gong’.

The only benefit of this method that I can see is that the sound of that gong reverberating through the room would help to drown out the cries of those eliminated contestants.

When I was in 4th grade, some moron  unwise administrator decided that instead of our regular yearly talent show, our school would have it’s very own version of ‘The Gong Show’. Yep.

My friends and I just knew that all of those months singing along to Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ were finally going to pay off!

We practiced our routine every single day after school and perfected our choreography.

This was going to be epic.

The big day arrived and as we pulled on our lace fingerless gloves, multiple strands of long bead necklaces, flouncy skirts and two pairs of different colored socks, we felt the anticipation building.

Finally it was our turn. As we marched out onto that stage, filled with confidence, we turned to get a look at the judges.

Our hearts sank.

There sitting behind the table were other students. And not just any other students. These were the ‘popular’ kids. The ones who seemed to sail effortlessly through life and had multiple pairs of Guess jeans. These were our judges.

I think we all knew in that moment that this wasn’t going to go well.

But it was too late to turn back now. We got into our positions on the stage, gave a nod to the kid in charge of the record player and as we heard Cyndi Lauper belting out those first few lines and began our routine, we found ourselves forgetting everything else besides embodying the very essence of those enviable girls who just wanna have fun.

It lasted all of about one minute.

As we were dancing our little hearts out, I saw the movement out of the corner of my eye.

Then the tell-tale sound of the scraping of a metal chair across the floor as it was being pushed away from the table. One of the ‘judges’ stood up and as the audience went crazy with a combination of booing and cheering (and as we still danced and lip-synched), they walked over to the cymbal/gong and gave it a hearty whack.

And just like that, my extremely short-lived career as a Cyndi Lauper impersonator was over.

But something happened to me that day.

It may have looked like I simply walked off that stage with my head hanging down and my side ponytail looking deflated.

But, what no one else could see, was that…

the gong came with me.

In fact, the sound of that gong continued to follow me throughout most of my life.

And, frankly, I got to the point where I no longer needed someone else to pick up that stick and give it a whack to eliminate me.

Because, well, I became perfectly capable of doing it all by myself…to myself.

You’re not cool enough.

GONG!

You’re not pretty enough.

GONG!

You’re never going to fit in.

GONG!

You’re not worthy enough.

GONG!

That person will never like you.

GONG!

It’s taken many, many years to not hear that gong resounding in my head at every turn. In fact, I think I had to have the stick pried right out of my hands as my fingers clutched it as tightly as possible.

And it’s only been through coming to a greater understanding of how much God truly loves me that I’ve been able to release it.

This has not been an easy process though.

It says in Ephesians that we are His ‘masterpiece’.

Ephesians 2

 Think about that for a minute. A masterpiece. A thing of beauty. A work of art.

Imagine a sculptor creating the most amazing statue. Pouring over the design, putting heart and soul into seeing their vision come to life, piece by piece. Stepping back and looking at it with absolute satisfaction and delight.

And then watching as that creation, that masterpiece, slowly began to pick itself apart, piece by piece.

Everything that you saw as beautiful, they saw as all wrong.

Well that’s exactly what we do when we ‘gong’ ourselves. We’re telling God that He had to have messed up with us.

We must be the exception to that ‘masterpiece’ business.

But, here’s the thing, we all know that when it comes to a piece of art, it only really matters how the artist views it. Right?

You know, that whole ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ thing. Well, we are the ‘beauty’ and He is the ‘beholder’.

So, what would happen if we began to see ourselves the way that God sees us?

What if the masterpiece was able to appreciate it’s own beauty? The beauty created by it’s Master.

You were created with purpose, with intention. In fact, you were made in HIS image.

And sweet friends, that artist, your Master Designer…

He will never, ever gong you. 🙂

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22 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals

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Comments

  1. Lyn says

    January 10, 2015 at 5:15 AM

    What a perfect truth to start the New Year meditating on. I think we’ve all had similar stories that have molded our wrong thinking about ourselves and now struggle so much trying to believe otherwise. Thank you so much for sharing yours and helping us put ours into a right perspective.

    Reply
  2. Tracy Snyder says

    January 10, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    Boy do I remember the Gong Show!! Amen to being God’s perfect creation, sometimes it takes a while to see the truth! Thank you for todays blog, a good reminder for all.

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    January 10, 2015 at 5:35 AM

    Thank you. That was beautiful. I’m sorry for your fourth grade heart that was broken. I’m happy you used it to eventually overcome and prevail. Walking with God is indeed the answer and I have found that out as well. I had similar experiences. The best news is you are using your experience and your walk to witness to others and that’s part of God’s master plan as well. Thanks for doing so, it has helped me this morning. Best to you.

    Reply
  4. Vanessa says

    January 10, 2015 at 5:41 AM

    I can relate and how you don’t realize your putting yourself down till you are older. Thank God, for His unconditional love.

    Reply
  5. Cheryl says

    January 10, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    I could relate so well to your words. Thanks for sharing something personal and spiritual.

    Reply
  6. Mary @ 120 Spring Street says

    January 10, 2015 at 6:52 AM

    I think lots of us have been gonged one way or another, especially as teens – why ARE people so cruel, especially girls?!?! I’ve carried a gong around most of my life – sometimes I let go of it but all too often I pick it back up. Thanks for this extremely encouraging post that will remind me to leave the thing alone and turn to God who never gongs me!!!

    Mary

    Reply
  7. kim kopp {the best is yet to come} says

    January 10, 2015 at 7:18 AM

    I LOVE this! Oh how I wish I had believed this years ago…. Believing who I am in Christ rather than looking to the world and believing the lies in my head. Great post!!!!

    Reply
  8. Robin says

    January 10, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    i can’t tell you what your post meant to me this morning. I had a sleepless night “gonging” myself for the person that I wish I was and not the person that I am. It was such a blessing to wake up and read your post and be both encouraged and get some perspective. It was what I needed today. It shows me again that we are precious to God, no matter what. Thank you so much for this encouraging post!

    Reply
  9. Thistle says

    January 10, 2015 at 7:53 AM

    And all God’s people said….”Amen.”

    🙂

    Reply
  10. Richella Parham says

    January 10, 2015 at 7:55 AM

    Amen, sister! Bless you for sharing this story. I can relate so vividly. Isn’t it amazing how those “gong” memories can replay in our minds? But you’re right; God will never gong us!

    Reply
  11. lucy Beliveau says

    January 10, 2015 at 8:27 AM

    Thank you!!! You said in one post what years of therapy has tried to teach me. I’m 64 now…how much longer must it go on? I hate the gong.

    Reply
  12. lucy Beliveau says

    January 10, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Thank you!!! You said in one post what years of therapy has tried to teach me. I’m 64 now…how much longer must it go on?

    Reply
  13. Sue says

    January 10, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    What a great way to start my Saturday morning! Thank you SO much for this wonderful message. I imagine all of us have had the same experience as your fourth grade “disaster”. And we all thought ours was a disaster too. Well, thank you for pointing out the truth, My Dear. And don’t ever think you deserve a gong, you are wonderful and a beautiful person inside and out.
    And I can guarantee those Perfect Girls with their limitless supplies of Guess jeans had plenty of gongs in their lives too. Happy Saturday to you, Vanessa…

    Reply
  14. Nancy says

    January 10, 2015 at 1:59 PM

    Thank you for that beautiful reminder that we are made in His image exactly like He wanted us to be. It took me years and years to love myself enough and not always be comparing. (Still creeps in sometime). Last year a high school classmate of mine decided he wanted to become a woman. He even went through surgeries of some kind. I knew him to be a Christian, but I have a hard time with accepting this although I know I’m not suppose to judge. But to me, that’s saying to God ” you messed this one up. I know better. You should have made me a woman.”

    Reply
  15. Annalee says

    January 10, 2015 at 3:32 PM

    Oh wow! That just sounds so completely cruel; I can’t believe that a school administrator actually thought that was a good idea!! It really sounds like a scene right out of a movie, I can just picture it all playing out. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I think we’ve all had experiences that made us feel the same way, even those popular kids. You did a great job taking this story and turning it into something so much deeper…a lesson that every Christian woman struggles with.

    Reply
  16. Teresa says

    January 10, 2015 at 5:03 PM

    How well I remember the show and the fact I carried my own gong with me, and let others “gong” me. It wasn’t until God asked me, “Why are you settling for 2nd best when I want to give you my very best?” that I broke my mirror and put up His mirror to see myself as He sees me

    Reply
  17. Debra@CommonGround says

    January 10, 2015 at 9:24 PM

    this is such a great message! gosh, I hated that show, I always thought it was so mean. I’m sure all you little gals were wonderful!

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth Stewart says

    January 10, 2015 at 10:53 PM

    Sad beginning, great ending, beautifully written!

    Reply
  19. dee says

    January 12, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    You’ve touched so many of us by reading the comments posted above and also have reminded us to whom we should be trying to please.
    Thanks for opening our eyes through your testimony . . . . this is something I battle with on a daily basis and it’s good to know that I am pretty normal after all 🙂

    Reply
  20. Evelyn Sanches says

    January 18, 2015 at 7:32 AM

    I really needed to see this today..all my life I have been “gonged” by family and friends alike..so I stopped doing what I love most “Baking” and I have been asking the Lord to please help me gain my desire to bake and upon reading this I have found new strength..Thank you so much

    Reply
  21. Julia says

    January 21, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    Thank you for your beautiful words and thoughts. Thank you for reminding all of us just how precious we are in his sight. Have a blessed day.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:53 PM

      Thank you Julia!

      Reply

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Happy weekend friends! My halls are decked and I’m so thrilled to finally have my Christmas home tour ready to share with you! There’s even a crooked star on one of our trees that I’ve made peace with after much consternation. Follow the link in my bio to read that story and see more of my house all dressed up for the season. ✨🌲
#traditionalhome #traditionalchristmas #timelesschristmas #christmashometour #frenchcountrychristmas
I’m working my way through a GK Chesterton Adven I’m working my way through a GK Chesterton Advent devotional and the first day there was a line in his writing that has been running through my head ever since I read it. “Advent is a desire in the Now for Not Yet”.

Every Christmas there’s this ache in my heart that accompanies my love for the season. I take such pleasure in decorating my home and making all of the preparations but there’s often a sense of melancholy that creeps in. I used to worry about this feeling and analyze it to death. But then I realized that it’s actually a good thing. God created in me this desire for something, Someone, beyond this present world. As such, my soul is longing for the ‘not yet’ even while I’m going about the work of living in the ‘now’. That tension is always with us whether we acknowledge it or not but it’s even more present at Christmas.

As we prepare our homes and our hearts to celebrate the birth of the ONE who came to fulfill the prophecies and promises, may we embrace those feelings and let them serve as a reminder of the hope we have in Him.

#adventdevotional #wearethehomemakers #advent #gkchesterton #proverbs31woman #club31women
This is such a busy time of year and I’m always This is such a busy time of year and I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes that use minimal pots and pans therefore requiring minimal cleanup. 🙌🏻

This one sheet roasted veggies, sausage and gnocchi definitely fit the bill! And I don’t know how I’ll go back to boiled gnocchi after tasting it roasted. 😋

Here’s how easy it is to make: 

Preheat oven to 425

Use any combo of veggies you like. I used sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and red onion. 

Dice into small pieces and spread on a sheet pan. 

Slice up the sausage and add to vegetables. Then add the uncooked gnocchi. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil and add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. You can also add any herbs you like! 

Roast in over for 25 minutes stirring once halfway through. 

While it’s in the oven, melt a stick of butter in a saucepan and add in two teaspoons of garlic. 

When you remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the butter/garlic mixture over the top and stir well to coat everything. Top with Parmesan cheese! 

Easy peasy and SO yummy! ✨

#sheetpandinner #sheetpanrecipes
The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
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