Another Man’s Treasure

“I say that’s one of the most ultimate cowboy stories of all time.” - Connie

“They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I always think, “yeah they probably think all mine’s trash, but I like it!”

Connie Kirkham said as she led us on a tour around her home, but to be honest, “trash” is the last word I would use to describe the beautiful trinkets and decorations scattered through every room. 

     When we first arrived at Cliff and Connie’s home, Michaela and I were speechless. It was like walking into a storybook: classic white house, gazebo in the front yard, rustic windmill spinning on the driveway next to the barn. As we got out of the car, we noticed a little chalk sign by the front door, welcoming us by name, and from the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted as though we were part of the family.  

The Kirkham’s home was built in 1911. Decorated with countless antiques, photos, and trinkets, the house holds a charm that is absolutely timeless. However, this house was not their first. 

     When Cliff and Connie were married, they moved into Cliff’s childhood home. The house contained decades of history and memories. In fact, Cliff and Connie’s bedroom was actually the same room that Cliff himself was born in. Tragically, in 1999 the Kirkham family’s beloved home burned to the ground. What’s crazy is that Connie envisioned the fire before it even happened. 

     “I had this thought,” she told us. “I don’t know if I had a vision, if it was a thought pattern, I don't know what it was, but I literally saw our house on fire.” Connie had been driving through town when the image flashed through her mind, but she wasn’t concerned. “I went a few miles down the road, and I had the same thing again, but it was our house burning.  And right after the house burned, it was people bringing me pieces of furniture and telling me that the Lord told them to give it to me.”

     Connie’s vision came to pass shortly after. She remembers seeing the smoke above the trees as she drove in from town, and she assumed it was a controlled burn, which happens often in the country. After calling her husband and realizing the neighbors were not burning anything, she rushed home to find their house engulfed in flames. Connie arrived around the same time as the fire trucks, which had been called in by the neighbors, but it was too late to save the house. 

     When we spoke to Connie about that day, she told us about their son, Bay, and his reaction to the incident. “When we called him and told him the house was burning he came in from school. He was trying to get in through that kitchen window, you know, the fire blasted the windows out, and he was gonna try and get my dining room table out, and the fire marshall would not let him come in.” The table was very special to Connie and her family, and Connie told us how her son refused to let it burn. “Bay goes out to his truck and gets his lariat rope, and he ropes that table and he pulls it out through the window,” she laughed.

“I say that’s one of the most ultimate cowboy stories of all time.”

After the fire, the Kirkham family was overwhelmed with support from their town. The local Methodist church gathered together the day of the fire to pray and offered up the parsonage for the Kirkhams to live in while they fixed up their new home. Just like Connie had envisioned, people even began donating pieces of furniture.

     As Connie showed us some of the special pieces that were given to her, she started to tear up. “One morning after we moved back in,” she recalls, “I was laying in bed praying, and the Lord spoke to me, and he said get up and count the pieces of furniture that I gifted you with. . .  33 pieces of furniture!” 

     It’s been over 20 years, and Connie still gets emotional as she recalls the love and provision they received from the Lord during that time. Now, Cliff and Connie do everything they can to help others in the same way. Connie has hosted several “fire showers” where people can bring gifts, food, clothes, etc. to help families who have lost their home get back on their feet. 

     Although the Kirkham’s take care of and cherish everything they own, they truly have open hands and give it all up to the Lord. They use what they’ve been given to bless others. They open their home for weddings, baby showers, and Bible studies. 

     Connie sweetly recalled a story about her son Bay from when he was about 16 years old. He had saved up his money to buy himself a truck, and he took so much pride in taking care of it. Unfortunately, life happens, and a good friend of theirs accidentally backed into it, leaving some damage. Connie knew that Bay would be disappointed, and immediately wrapped him in a big hug when she told him the news. His response? “Momma, it’s just pig iron and paint. It can be fixed.” This response has stuck with Connie to this day, and she reminds herself of it often. 

     It seems as though each and every item in their home holds a story.

“That always really touched my heart and so I tell everybody that’s my new motto. If it can be fixed, I don’t worry about it.”

     The Lord blesses us with wonderful things on this earth, but ultimately it all fades eventually. Metal rusts, paint chips, and wood burns. In the end, Jesus Christ is the only thing that matters. Cliff and Connie have been reminded of this truth throughout their lives, and it’s something all of us can hold on to. 

We were so inspired by our time with Cliff and Connie, and we hope these stories inspire you too! Stay tuned for our next blog on Tuesday, March 7th!

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.