My father-in-law used to own a painting business. My husband, consequently, knows a lot about painting as he used to work with his dad. We can drive all over the Orlando area and he will say, "We painted that house" or "We painted those apartments". When my husband and I were dating, he purchased a new house. I offered to help him with some painting. Now, I paint well, but I am slow and a little over meticulous. My then boyfriend was observing my painting and made an off color comment about my painting technique. He wasn't commenting on the final product, he admitted that was good. He did; however, have something to say about how I got there. I did not receive the comment well and sharply responded with, "If you are happy with the outcome, what do you care how I get there?!". Over the years, we have made a point of painting separately. To this day the comment still doesn't sit quite well with me.
He recognizes he could have offered criticism in a more constructive way. I probably still would not have received it well. That was just the kind of person I was. As long as I got the job done and done well then I didn't need anyone to tell me a different way to do it. Yesterday all that changed for me. I felt the upstairs bedrooms and bath needed a fresh coat of paint. It looked like they hadn't been painted in forever and they were well WHITE. I hate white walls. It is so boring. The baseboards were not in good shape either. When they had varnished the floor, they allowed varnish to get on the baseboards and they had yellowed with age. It just didn't put forth a very nice image for a house on the market. So, I gathered my supplies and went to town. I began painting as I have since that "comment" from 12 years ago.
Then suddenly something clicked for me. I have watched my husband pain trim and cut in many times. I will admit, I am in awe of his technique and how quickly he gets it done. So really without thinking, my brush turned in my hand like he does it and I just started painting. It took about a minute before I realized he knew what he was doing. I cut in a bedroom in NO TIME FLAT! And then it occurred to me, I should have listened to wisdom. Instead of letting his "comment" affect me, I should have asked him what he meant or to show me a better way. Stubbornness got in my way. Stubbornness and pride. When we stopped for lunch, I admitted to him he was right. I had changed my technique and it had worked. I was on fire with the painting.
Tonight after dinner, I had one wall left to finish both rooms. My husband offered to help. I sat down on the floor and cut in the little alcove in the bedroom and my husband grabbed the roller. We worked across that one wall and I again commented how quick his technique was. At one point, I heard him laugh. I turned to see why he was laughing at me and said "What?!". He just smiled and said, "You really got it!". My chest puffed out a little and inside I was like, "Yeah, I got this!". A couple of minutes later I got up from the floor. He looked at me surprised and said "Are you done already?". I was done and I was proud that my husband was proud of me. He said to me later in the evening, "I am really proud of you that you got both bedrooms done today." By done, I do mean painted the walls and the baseboards.
Wisdom is a gift when it is offered to you. If I had been willing to receive, I could have had a different painting experience for the past 12 years. Over the years, others have offered wisdom, also known as advice or suggestions. I generally responded the same way until a couple of years ago. I make an effort now to at least consider what they are saying. I even try to respond with, "Good point" or "I didn't think of it like that". It is still difficult to receive, but it is getting better. The bible speaks to wisdom in hundreds of places. Proverbs 3 tells us, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."
In His service
Mally
Comments