I love Fixer Upper. I love Property Brothers, Home Town, you name it I really enjoy home improvement shows and one phrase that seems to be the theme of most of them is, "forever home."
I like old stuff. Old dishes, old furniture, old houses, David loves old cars, we like old stuff. There is something so satisfying about getting a room painted, a new area rug, an old drop leaf table with an old pitcher sitting on it filled with hydrangeus from my yard that makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. I'm a nester, I love my home and there is no other place I'd rather be than safely tucked in, within the walls of my little place on earth.
In 2019 Americans spent an average of $9,081.00 on home improvements. We did not, but I sure spent my fair share. Home improvements have increased more than 17% and decorating/renovation cost now surpass home maintenance. Let's face it, we like to decorate our homes. And within reason and the right priorities, there isn't anything wrong with wanting our home to be a refection of our personal style and taste. The Bible even says it's ok and encourages us in Proverbs 31 to "look well to the ways of our household." In Genesis we can even read about some of the decor that adorned the tents of Sarah, Rebekah and Rachael. But here's the thing.....this little corner where I live is not my forever home. And no matter how much I paint, fix up, keep up with the latest styles and decor of my friends it will still be just a little house here on earth that I live in for just a little while. But..... while I am maintaining my home here on earth and copying what I see on all those decorating shows or trending designs of my friends, Jesus is preparing my real home, my forever home. In John 14:3 Jesus tells me that He is preparing a place for me, a home like nothing I have ever seen or can imagine. Nothing can destroy it, it is mine, His gift to me. It will be decorated beautifully.
In our church service last Sunday evening, our pastor encouraged us to share what we had learned about ourselves during the covid 19 shutdown. I knew without even thinking about it that I had learned the true meaning of contentment. While I grieved over the images I saw on tv about the suffering taking place all over the world, I was content to stay home, to stay put. David and I have lived here almost 50 years. We've raised 3 sons here (believe me it shows the scars) and 9 grandchildren fill it up with love and laughter. (and sometimes a few more scars) So what do all of these random thoughts and ramblings really boil down to? Simply this:
Don't get caught up in the house and miss the home.
There are no forever homes here on earth.
Let your home really be your home. It's ok if everything doesn't match, if it looks a little dated, if there's a few bumps and scars. Sheetrock can be fixed, believe me I know. Someday I'll write a post about all the holes in the sheetrock from wrestling matches, "hall ball", and yes, walking on your hands and falling into the wall. The memories that are made here are eternal and our kids will learn early in life what we really value: do we value them more than we value our temporary home? Because you see, children are eternal, they are forever, houses are not.
So... I guess I'll keep watching Joanna Gaines do her thing, and the Property Brothers work themselves crazy trying to create a forever home. But while I"m watching, I won't loose sight of my forever home in Heaven. There, I will live for all of eternity with the One Who made it possible for me to live in a forever home, bought, paid for, created by Him.
Matthew 6:20
Lay up for yourselves treasure in Heaven, where moth nor rust corrupts and thieves do not break in and steal. V21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?
