The Value of Making a Home
Running late to catch a flight, I heard the airline intercom call my name.
After stowing my bag in the overhead compartment, I settled in the middle seat, greeting fellow passengers. The day continued with a connecting flight, bags of peanuts and airport food. Check in to the hotel, attend meetings, eat restaurant food. Not much sleep, live out of a suitcase and attend more meetings. Rinse and repeat for the trip home.
There’s nothing like a trip to a faraway place to make you appreciate home.
Coffee in my favorite mug, reading a book to my seven-year-old, and even folding towels are newly appreciated.
Since my return I’ve seen my home with fresh eyes and it has strengthened my resolve to make it a place of refuge for those who enter its walls. That sounds noble, but dealing with the day-to-day reality of dirty dishes and mountains of laundry can tarnish the vision. It’s good to have an occasional wake-up call for a change in perspective.
The nice thing about making a home that is a joy and comfort is that you don’t have to be married or have children or even live with another person to do so. You can still light a candle and set a pretty table, even if you live alone.
In fact, it may be even more important. Everyone needs a balanced life of good meals, rest, self-care and pleasant surroundings. You can make a home that is a joy and comfort without much money, but it does take thought and effort.
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.
We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and ads. The TV takes the place of a board game, and irritation with others flavors our speech. Sometimes this happens so slowly we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.
With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, go ahead and get the laundry caught up, read aloud to your children, and prepare a nice meal.
Think about the times you’ve been away or have sat in a hospital room and wished for an ordinary day at home. See your home with fresh eyes and appreciate every moment of your fleeting time on earth.
Remember once again that making a joyful, comfortable and encouraging home is one of the most important things you do.
Have you had any wake-up calls to appreciate home lately? Please leave a comment…
I really appreciate you saying that making a beautiful home is important, even if you are alone. I did that when I was single … even if I was just having a cup of tea, I would make it a beautiful event in a nice cup with nice things to go with it. There are so many benefits of finding the beautiful in things. I guess that’s what I would say about the chores of home as well. When you frame the everyday things with eyes that are looking for beauty and a heart that is thankful for it, there is so much freedom and joy. It sets the tone for the home and life and all who come in contact with you. Thanks for encouraging.
This is a great article! A great reminder of things to fill your time with in your home:) Reading books, listening to stories on CD, playing games together. These are my favorite times together! Good reminder to be joyful throughout the day and set the tone no matter what is going on. A spotless house doesn’t mean alot if everyone is unhappy!
Thank you so much for this. It reminds me how blessed I am. I hate to say but I get caught up in the everyday tasks and forget how blessed I am. My husband works very hard so I am able to stay at home with our daughter and homeschool her. Very grateful!! Also thank you for the ttapp tips. I have been ttapping since September and have seen results. I have Hashimoto’s disease and I am also in menopause and this is the first exercise program where I have seen results.
Thanks so much for your encouraging comments! I need to remind myself of these things!
Charlotte, you never cease to inspire me. I have such a passion for making home beautiful and comfortable for my loved ones–so much so that I’ve chosen to make a career out of it and give up the perks of having a regular income of my own to supplement my husband’s. I realize that so many people don’t understand what I “do” all day with my time, but when my husband comes home at the end of the day and says the house looks nice and it smells good (as he contentedly drops onto the couch and kicks off his shoes) I feel like I’ve provided a beacon of hope and refuge for at least one tired husband in the world, and I am happy.
I’ve experienced the exact opposite, where I come home worn out and unprepared to make dinner only to discover that the house smells of dirty laundry and moldy trash. Contrasting these two experiences has convinced me that there’s no full-time job I’d rather have than making my home a haven. Thank you for your encouragement. You are so wonderful, Charlotte!
Wow, Annie, now I’M inspired! We all need reminders to go the second mile in our home-making and you just gave ME one!
Hi Charlotte,
I have recently started following your blog and I love it.I am continually inspired by the way you handle your household. I have three children ages 6,3 and 2. I also have a husband that wants a very traditional family.I want very much to be the Christian mom and wife I need to be But also work from home writing and coaching. You are very inspiring because I look at you and say if she can do it successfully with 12 then I can do it with 3. Thank you for all of your inspiration. I have learned so much from you. Have a blessed Easter!
Thanks for your kind words, Christy! I’m honored to encourage you!