Allowing our Homes to Refresh Others

Happy Monday friends! Last week was a blur! I had a few more posts planned for last week, and you know what – life happened! I even had a special mother’s day post planned, but sometimes in life we need to drop what we are doing and show up for other people, and that was just what happened last week. And it got me thinking, how often do we allow our homes to refresh others? Because if we are only focusing on the right throw pillows for our living room or the perfect chairs in our dining room than we are missing the point. I mean sure those things matter, but at the end of the day they are just that – things, and they are only part of what goes into the environment we are creating inside our four walls. So today I’m sharing a bit about home, and some heart ramblings from my past week.

Last minute, we had some house guests come and stay with us. And I don’t know about you, but sometimes “last minute” can really throw me off my groove. Thankfully, my focus shifted quickly on what I could do to really be a help in the best way possible. I know you’ve probably heard me say this before, and I know I will say it again, but if the goal is the “Love the space we Live in”, than how much more does it affect others we invite in.

We don’t have a relatively big house, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong it’s not small either, but modest coming in around 1900 sq. feet. We don’t have a guest room, so accommodating overnight guests usually means some shuffling around of the rooms, and cozy sleeping quarters. And by “cozy” I mean small. But that hasn’t stopped us before, and it won’t stop us in the future either.

One thing that we constantly pray over our home is that it will be a peaceful environment for anyone who steps inside. I truly believe that we as women, even more so, can cultivate the atmosphere we want in our homes regardless of our circumstances. We hold the power to create atmospheres of peace and love and joy, and a welcoming space for not only ourselves to enjoy, but our family and friends too.

I always get compliments when people come over saying how nice our house is, but I can see it in their eyes, and sense it in my spirit, that it’s beyond the pretty decor that they are referring too. It’s how they feel the moment they walk in our door – Welcomed, cozy, at rest. And no matter how long people stay for, whether it’s dropping something off, a cup of coffee, a meal, or even over night, my hearts desire is that they will leave feeling refreshed.

It’s a gift, that environment you created, that space you cultivated, even if you just fluffed the throw pillows on your couch – when you take the time to make others feel comfortable and welcome in your home you are offering them a gift. It’s not always about having the nicest and the best. If I think back on every home I’ve had, through every season of life I’ve been in, there is one common thread through them all – it was a welcoming environment. Whether my living room was made up of thrift store furniture, or when we could finally afford to buy a new couch. Don’t allow your current state to keep you from offering refreshment to others.

It’s never been about how much money we had, but about how I made our spaces feel with what we had. Making spaces feel cozy with throw pillows, or simply lighting a candle with a heavenly scent. It’s all about the atmosphere we cultivate, and I believe as women we set the tones in our home. I love the quote by Tad Carpenter once we started a family – “What I love most about my home is who I share it with”. It takes the focus off of the “things” and reminds me who I create our home for. And that means those who live here full time and the occasional overnight guest.

While I may have not gotten to all my work things done that I wanted to last week, I had 3 extra beds made up providing a soft landing for others to find rest in. Sometimes our “work” doesn’t always look like we think it will, but I know there is meaning in everything we put our hands too, and our willingness to help others when the situation arrives!

P.S. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday, whether you are mom, a mom in waiting, a spiritual mom, or just a brave women who stands in the gap and loves others like a mom!