Gratitude

This past summer, we renovated our home. About 80% of our upstairs got new paint and flooring, and 80% of our downstairs got new carpet. To get the rooms ready for the renovation, we had to move everything out of the rooms that got new flooring. We didn’t actually do any of the physical work in moving the furniture, because we’re old, and not very strong, but still, everything that wasn’t furniture had to be packed up and moved into an empty bedroom. It was a lot of work, but thankfully it’s done now, other than a few boxes that still need to be unpacked and loads of pictures that still need to be re-hung.

But here’s the thing, I thought after spending all that money, and all that time and effort, I would suddenly love our home. And, for the most part, I do like how it turned out, but it still doesn’t feel “right” to me. The other night, however, I had a change of attitude. Here’s how it happened.

I decided to just scroll through some reels on Instagram. Generally, this is a gigantic time waster on my part, but God must have decided to meet me in that space because He knew I’d be stuck there for a bit. I happened on a reel from @homeon24th. Alex, the curator of @homeon24th, helps people build or renovate their homes. (Coincidence? Doubtful.) In this reel of hers, she was walking through her home, with her baby on her hip, singing along with Brandon Lake’s song “Gratitude.” Here are the words she added to her reel.

“I remembered something today.

Décor doesn’t set the tone in my home.

Furniture won’t bring peace into a room.

I determine the atmosphere of my home.

Thankful to be reminded that taking time to pray and worship changes everything in my home.”

Alex goes on to say that she sometimes needs to be reminded that the tone of her home is dictated much more by her mental, emotional, and spiritual health than it is by that new floor mirror she’s been wanting so badly. And that is when God reminded me that the same is true in our home.

I could have it repainted a thousand different times, and refurnish it with the very best of everything, assuming that is financially possible, but it isn’t going to change the atmosphere of my home as much as my attitude will change it.

Peace in a home doesn’t come from new flooring, new countertops, or even new furniture. Peace in a home is a result of the spirit that resides there. If I spend more time focusing on all I have to be grateful for, instead of what the newest home décor style is, I will be much more content in my surroundings and peace will flow from me and not my “stuff.”

In the words of Brandon Lake, “So I throw up my hands and praise You again and again.” Thank you, Lord, for the reminder.

Cover photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash