The start of another new year reminds me how fleeting time is. How is it that another year has passed in the blink of an eye?
One of the things I am so aware of as I watch my family grow and change from year to year is my need to be faithfully committed to my purpose as the keeper of my home.
It isn’t enough to let days slip by in a blur of chaos and busyness and just hope things turn out for the best. Time with my family is too precious for that. I need to embrace each opportunity to intentionally build my home from the inside out. This is the season of life where my family needs my presence and attention.
As the new year begins, I ask myself, "Am I fully embracing the life God has called me to live, or am I too easily distracted by less important things?"
I really want our home to be a respite from the outside world, a place where we feel at peace. I like to set up comfy corners to sit in for quiet time, inviting rooms to dine together and welcoming places to play games as a family. I want to have a welcoming home to invite guests. Creating a home to be a blessing to others is something I love to do.
Yet designing that environment and stating my intent of how I want to use my home isn’t enough. I feel God has called me to live a life at home that is more than a mirage. Living authentically for me is creating a life of purpose and living out what I believe.
If I don’t commit myself to having the right attitudes at home, to actual use our home to play games with my children or sit down around our table for family dinners or open my doors to welcome guests, my good intentions will be forgotten in the chaos of lesser things. I will miss the opportunities I say I hold the most dear.
As the calendar turns once again, I need to ask myself what I am seeing through the windows of my home.
Do I find evidence of my commitment to living an authentic life?
Am I wholeheartedly pursuing the calling that God has placed on my life as the keeper of my home?
What changes do I need to make in my schedule, attitude or priorities to make sure I am focused on what really matters to me?
I'll never be the perfect homemaker, that is for sure, but fortunately that is not what living with purpose and authenticity is all about.
Time will still fly by and obligations in and outside the home may grow, but living authentically day by day is one of the greatest challenges and privileges I have in life. It isn't easy to keep my priorities in order. Yet, I’m humbled by all God has entrusted to me. It is an honor and a blessing to be a homemaker.
What new commitments are you making this year to keep your priorities right at home?
adapted from The Inspired Room
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Shilo says
Great reminder, Melissa. Thanks!
Linda Stoll says
Thanks for talking about being intentional as we till our fires, warm our hearths, do what we need to do to make this place God’s blessed us with a haven, not just 4 square walls and a roof. I love the questions you’ve called us to consider!
If we’ve ever need a respite, a safe place to land, it is now!
Karen Haberstro-Walls says
Hi there – Established fan/subscriber here but first time commenter. I wholeheartedly agree with you and appreciate the thoughtfulness/introspection of this post. In our home and in my clients’ homes, the visuals of decorating are addressed, of course. But how successful are they if they do not also invite and welcome and comfort those who enter those spaces?
After reading your post today in your Inspired Room blog regarding your “scientific” approach of glancing into a room, I just had to share how you really made me smile! Not only was it entertaining but I was so relieved because I do the same exact thing! A lot of the decorating I do is based on that one swift moment of not only how something looks, but also how it feels upon that first glance.
Thanks, again. I love reading your posts!
Kate says
This is awesome. You are right….It IS an honor and a blessing to be a homemaker. And sometimes in the midst of doing laundry, dishes, and toy clean up – I forget that. Thank you so much for the reminder.
I feel inspired now 🙂
Have a lovely week,
Kate 🙂
Holley Gerth says
Melissa, I love how you take the spiritual and make it so tangible and beautiful in your everyday life. And you help the rest of us do it too! You are a blessing, girl! Appreciate you…
Kerry says
Thanks Melissa..I feel swamped and I really needed to hear what a blessing it is and honor to be at home taking care of things daily.
Lisa says
As much as I love to decorate our home and change things regularly, as much as I love keeping up with new trends and learning about designers, the best compliments I have ever received have been, “There’s a really wonderful feeling in your home.” “The Spirit in your home is so strong.” And, “You can feel so much love in your home.”
No rug or pillow can top that!
Jen@MomsSharpeningMoms says
I am examining our home as well. I have decided to remove certain parts of our life that bring only stress and replace them with things that bless. For instance, each day we are trying to play at least one game together as a family. We are doing a lot of board games, but as it warms I am sure tag and and races will take over. The laughter is growing again in our home. We are loving it!
ali says
Oh yes, I needed to hear this today, needed a gentle nudge of encouragement. I whole-heartedly agree, I just don’t always live what I agree with… I was looking for another dose of motivation today, and here I found it.
aimee says
Amen! A very refreshing, encouraging post for all of us moms out there who think we are sacrificing the well being of our children by reducing the amount of activities they are involved in. So funny because it’s the reverse!
Tammy says
Such a refreshing post. I like to think of my home as a place where we can just breathe and have conversation, be still, laugh, or whatever makes our heart giggle. You gave some great questions to think about.
melissa says
this is exactly what i needed today.
refocus.
thanks so much!!
melissa @ the inspired room says
Thank you ladies. I {heart} you all…
Val says
Wow! I read your blog on a regular basis and thank you for the visual inspiration you give…but WOW, this post is exceptional! Maybe it just resonates with me at this time of year but you have given such crystal perspective to a critical issue all Moms face. Thank you for your insight and pearls of wisdom.
Debi Walter says
I am finding myself asking the same questions. I love being a keeper of my home, but after 31 years of marriage and a nearly empty next – my life looks so different now than it did only 5 years ago! I have more time, but I still must prioritize! Thank you for the helpful reminder.
FaithBarista Bonnie says
“I need to embrace each opportunity to intentionally build my home from the inside out.”
Thanks, Melissa, for being transparent in the struggle to live out what we truly want to do. It is a daily commitment — every day I get up and think of everything ahead of me. It is very easy for me to feel overwhelmed.
This year, I just want to keep returning to the commitment and desire you talk about — and not get down about my imperfection. It’s not about my batting average – it’s about getting up again and swinging every day. Sounds good, but it is hard for this perfectionist! 😉
Motherhood is definitely a training and breaking ground for me.
One mantra I say to myself is choose people over anything else that competes for my attention.
magsmcc says
I’m printing this to use as a book mark in my current read- The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence. They seem to match!
Articles Worth Reading | Wholesome Womanhood says
[…] Living Authentically at Home What a great reminder of the amazing responsibility wives and mothers have! It takes intentional thought and work to be a godly influence. It takes a conscious effort to reject the less important things for the most important things. […]
Articles Worth Reading | | Wholesome WomanhoodWholesome Womanhood says
[…] Living Authentically at Home What a great reminder of the amazing responsibility wives and mothers have! It takes intentional thought and work to be a godly influence. It takes a conscious effort to reject the less important things for the most important things. […]
Sweet Dreams: Creating a Bedroom You'll Love - The Inspired Room says
[…] to read my philosophy of Living Authentically at Home, visit (in)courage and please leave me comments so I’ll know you came […]