Almost six years ago we were house hunting. We came across this 100-year-old house with amazing character, but I just didn’t love it. Nope, it was not for us. I mean friends, it didn’t even have a bathtub!! My HOME would need a bathtub. The house search continued. Every now and then, my husband Bret would drive by the house. Probably the fourth time we looked at the house (bless our sweet realtor), I saw this house a little differently. I envisioned a huge table full of people having great fellowship. The porch wasn’t just a porch; it was a place where my family and friends could step on our porch and feel comfort and beauty. The steps led to our fortress. Our safe place.
Those moments were where I realized the power of a home. Our homes have much potential, we just have to envision it. I want our home to be a place where my husband can recharge. A place that my kids have a sense of belonging and know that no matter what else happens outside our walls, they have a place to be themselves.
So how do I make a place for my family and others full of beauty and peace?
Purge all of the unwanted things
Purge all of the things that you don’t love, I mean LOVE, LOVE. Purging, although tedious, can make room for the things that reflect you and the people in your home. I love what Nancy Kelly says about purging, “Keep cutting back ‘til there is PEACE in your home.”
Make a place for your people
Making a corner for each person in your home can help cultivate an atmosphere of peace and belonging. My two older kids have a tea corner set up with everything they would need to make “a hug in a cup”. An art table, with markers and paper, and a coffee station for mom and dad. All of these spaces are created in various spots of the home so that each of us can explore creativity, solitude, and prayer.
Add elements of beauty
Beauty can be found in some of the smallest things and the most ordinary moments. Potted plants, old books, or family photos. One of my favorite things recently has been bees wax candles. Lighting them as the kids get ready for bed brings such a peaceful renewal as they end their day. We have a family full of cold natured people, so blankets strategically placed around the house offer a cozy feeling in our down time. Smells can have such a connection to memory. Fresh flowers from the supermarket, tree clippings in a vase, favorite scented soaps, or even an aromatic cleaning spray can make the smallest moment a memory.
Sally Clarkson puts it so well, “Instead of creating us to live in a house of weariness and colorlessness, God has made us to live in a home of full of soul beautiful elements.”
I encourage you, friends, to find what your beauty looks like in your home for your family and start reaping the benefits of a life-giving home.
We would like to thank Kendra Huey for writing this post!
Women's Ministry 