Dear friend,
I’ve been pondering the importance of home. Of having a place for ourselves in which we can be comfortable and at peace; a space for ourselves and those we love.
Our home, or whatever space is ours, is a natural reflection of who we are. The more I tend to a space, the more relaxed I am when I’m there.
Having been unemployed since last October, much more of my time is spent at home. I notice the house more now. There is an awareness I didn’t have when I was dashing out the door in the morning and not returning until evening. Dwelling somewhere in the light of day feels different to only seeing it at night. It feels more lived in, during the day.
Being here more often, I spend more time than ever in the kitchen, learning to make new things and caring for what is around me. I spend more time noticing areas I didn’t used to see, like my corner of the garage or under the kitchen sink.
While I am more minimal than excessive, I still lean towards cosiness. A lived-in feel. I would rather be in a warm cottage than a cold mansion. So long as there are books on shelves and an assortment of mugs, at least a few plants and maybe the smell of fresh bread, I am happy. Books are not minimal, but they are inviting. I would rather cultivate a home that allows both beauty and comfort than a house that declares “I know how to declutter”.
While it is enjoyable – and important – to create a haven, I need to remind myself that earth is not my permanent home. There is more than this. But as God created a beautiful world, so I want to create and appreciate the beautiful environment around me, and I will joyfully tend to it while this life lasts.
How have you made your house a home? I would love to know what makes you comfortable and happy in your space.
Sarah xx
Currently listening: Good For You by Toto
Currently reading: Middlemarch by George Eliot
the softest words 