Three Characteristics that Make Your House a Home
Being stuck at our living quarters for so long has produced a LOT of contemplation. The other night I asked Bodie for some input. “What makes your house a home?” I wondered. That conversation just produced more questions and thoughts and I want to share them with you today.
Why am I feeling more comfort here while others are going insane at home? How did the pioneers stay on their properties for so long without feeling depressed and going insane? These are just a few I’ve had.
Whether you’re drowning in loneliness, stress from kids or loving life at home I want to give you some encouragement. Here are a few thoughts that might just help your house feel more like the home you desire.
Three Aspects to Make Your House a Home
There are three ways to describe the home that beautifully expresses the how our life needs are met. They are:
Emotional Safety
This is the ability to feel like I can be myself and share my feelings or just my personality without being shot down. There is grace when I mess up and there is honesty when others or myself mess up.
Physical Safety
Home is supposed to be safe. There is a reason why stress levels are higher in places where homes are not safe as this article shows.
Physical Provision
A home is not a home without provided the basic neccesities. During the last few months I’ve seen this category be amplified. We began a garden, something we’ve dreamed of for a few years. In addition, I began to return to making food from scratch instead of relying on store bought snacks and lunch additions. Not only did I feel like I was giving my family better nourishment and care, we also saved on our groceries for the first time in months!
There’s something about receiving nourishment and having your needs met at the home as opposed to going out to bring back what you need. When I settled into a routine of baking and having home made items in the freezer, I didn’t always need that extra snack from the store.
God Embodies the Meaning of “Home”
It just so happens that these three Characteristics match the characteristics of God.
When the Isrealites left Egypt with only what they could quickly pack and trustingly followed God’s Presence in a cloud: THAT was their physical safety. (Exodus 13:21-22, 14:13-16)
When Water came from the rock, manna from the sky and birds flew into the camp: THAT was their physical provision. (Exodus 16-17)
When God made a home in the Tabernacle and forgave the Israelites disobedience over and over again: THAT was his emotional provision and safety. (Psalm 51, Exodus 33:12-17)
That isn’t all because in the new testament Jesus makes it very clear that He is the Bread of Life.
John 6:58 ( NLT version) "I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
God as Father
I can’t write a post about God embodying the characteristics of the home without recognizing that he is also “Father.”
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (NIV)
Some of us have had a hard time grasping what “home” should be because we don’t have or haven’t had good relationships within our home. Even now, home may be the most burdensome of places. This is the time to look to God for “home.”
He is the provider, the protector, the caring leader and present love.”
Where do you get your Provision?
My reaction to staying at home for an extended period of time was telling. It told me more about my home than I’d ever wanted to believe. It told me:
- My tendency is to look to outside sources for many of the food items that my home could produce
- I look to getting out of the house to deal with the stress of motherhood. I didn’t realize the the stress of loading and transitioning kids is just as insane.
- I’d give up doing the activities that my home could provide (even the ones I wanted to do) because I felt there was no time.
- Fear of failure stops me from pursuing the simple life I really want
Where do I go From Here?
Is homemaking revival a real thing? I really think It was needed in my house. Revival doesn’t come like magic though. True revival starts with repentance and repentance with surrender. The way to make your house a home really starts with YOU.
What about you?
- Where do you look for your provision?
- Have you leaned more toward focusing on one characteristic above the others?
- How can YOU ( not the others in your home) make a change to surrender your ideas of what the home will look like?
- How can you express God’s character in your own home?
No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, there is one person we have control over: ourselves. YOU can make a change in your home. It may not be the change you dreamed of but it is a change for the better. Start with yourself.
May your home be safe, have loving connections and provide the nourishment, as you look to God to be your “true home.” That’s how to make your house the “home” you’ve been wanting.
From the Farmhouse,
–Krista
More inspiration for your homemaking
https://hilltopinthevalley.com/clean-the-wet-mess-ditch-the-hot-mess/
https://hilltopinthevalley.com/freezer-meal-party/
Good job, Krista! I especially like the video editing you’ve done – that helps to keep things interesting vs a “talking head”. Nice balance between face to face and other visuals..
Thank you Karen! I must admit if I’d done it “perfectly” it would have been quite different but I’m glad it stays engaging. Thank you for the feedback and for watching!