Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
When God prepared the garden as a first home for his first children, He did not make it merely utilitarian, but a place of color, variety, and eye-pleasing design-- a place of visual, emotional, intellectual, and physical comfort for His first son and daughter. There was fruit of every sort, probably at the peak of sweetness, with spices, herbs, nuts, grains, trees, flowers--the reflection of His own artwork in every square foot of garden.
A part of God's inherent nature was to create and provide pleasure to His creatures through what He made.
And so, as a co-creator, made in God's likeness, we extend beauty, creativity, and pleasure within the confines of our own realms, too.
Over the years, cultivating seasonal beauty has become a pleasure for me and a gratifying one, too, as our home feels like the most wonderful place in the world for my children to be because of all the heart -strings we have tied by sharing in the atmosphere through life-giving moments and traditions over many years. Even now, when we live in different places, we love to come together and enjoy the decorations and accoutrements to many years of celebration whenever we can!
I do not buy much, as I have used mostly things passed down or purchased one at a time over many decades of marriage. I have lived in tiny apartments and sprawling old homes, but have found it is God's beauty expressed through you through your own design that matters. Sometimes a small candlelight in a cozy room is all that is needed to create a place of rest and a sense of haven.
So many words have been crafted about whether we devalue the beauty and simplicity of the Christ story through all of the contemporary ways we have marketed and made Christmas into a secular holiday. Should we celebrate with Christmas trees—and if we do, are we validating pagan ways? I have prayed and pondered over all of these issues, myself.
Yet, there has never been any confusion in our home with our own children. We are not pagans--we love Jesus in front of our children every day of the year. We have used our tree as a symbol that God is eternally the same--the evergreen is a picture of His never-changing nature and ever present love throughout eternity. We talk about the lights, and how beautifully they sparkle as a picture of our need to bring light to a dark world. We have spent hours and hours of memorable "discipleship" moments sitting in our lit room, candles flickering, sharing hearts and growing closer.
The Christmas story is the most important way in this season that we celebrate God's beauty, life, love, and goodness. Home should be a haven, a storehouse, for creativity and the glory of workmanship that shows the divine spark of our ability to create an atmosphere that breathes the life of Christ. Home should encompass all that is good, inspirational, true, comforting, loving, and real for our children.
The world around us holds temptation and darkness. That is why we all long for a place of comfort, a retreat of rest, a sanctuary of life where we may find a haven in which to restore the light in our souls.
When we, as women, create an atmosphere that invites and welcomes our children, husbands and families every day, they will always see our home as a place of restoration, a haven in the storms of life. It is one of the glories of womanhood to craft home into that place that warms the hearts, stills the fears, and captivates the imaginations of those who live there, for the glory of God.
Creating a beautiful haven gives all who enter a place for their work, play, creating and living of life. And so, though the work is long, we seek every day, to create the beauty of His presence, not only in our words, but also in the atmosphere that supports our messages.
Peace to you this day, and I pray your own Christmas—fying is a joy! :)