SEE

 

When you walk into my parents house the first thing you see is a table. If it’s your birthday, the table will be filled with pictures of you, maybe a framed quote about your characteristics, most likely a Happy Birthday Beanie Baby, candles, and festive birthday decor. If you are the guest of honor, whether it’s your birthday or a baby shower or graduation or a goodbye party, you will no doubt feel loved, welcomed and celebrated the second you walk in the door.

It doesn’t have to be an entry table. When people are in your home looking around what do you want them to see? Maybe you’ve have framed quotes in every room. Or pictures of family and friends. Maybe minimalism is your thing and simplicity is how you want to be known. Are there piles of paper on every surface, dishes piled high and laundry spilling out; You’re keeping it real because “ain’t nobody got time for that.”

One of my favorite things to see in people’s home is a big piles of shoes by the door. What a picture of community and gathering. I am inspired by homes who seem to have it all together. Where do they put their junk? Wait, they don’t have junk. I need to throw some things away. I love seeing a bit of reality too, with no apologies. People with standards, but know that life isn’t perfect, and they’re ok with some dust on their shelves and some crumbs on the floor. I feel more at home and at ease with that.

Maybe table settings is where you thrive. You love to make your table look beautiful with table runners, cloth napkins, lots of dishes and cutlery, all accompanied with a gorgeous centerpiece. You thrive by making your table look beautiful, that is where your creativity shines. You show love by setting the table because you want people to feel like they have a place, that their presence was anticipated. We have two dining tables in our home. Sometimes I keep one set, with a full tablescape, for two reasons. 1. Some days it seems like its the only clean place in the house. When my house feels cluttered, I’ll set the table. Then no one can do homework or art projects and add to the chaos. 2. I feel ready for last minute guests. 

Is there something in your home that you see that does not bring you joy? If you can think of that thing now, get up and remove it. Go put it in your car to give to Goodwill or to someone else who will appreciate it. Or maybe it’s a pile of papers that you just don’t want to go through, but every time you see that pile you automatically feel overwhelmed. Set aside twenty minutes in your day tomorrow to go through the pile. When we get rid of or take care of things that bring us down it will instantly lift our spirits and bring in a refreshing feeling about our homes. Get your kids involved to help. If you have the means, hire someone. Maybe a landscaper or a house cleaner. It does not make you any less of a person to hire someone to help. It provides a job for someone. That is awesome.

One of my favorite things to do is either move furniture or shop my home. When the house feels stale and uninviting and I don’t want to spend money, I use what I have. You’d be surprised at how much switching lamps or stacking books or moving chairs can make your home feel like new.

I want to suggest buying new pillows or a cute throw or maybe a new lamp to lift your spirits. And while there is something to that, it is only temporary. We will soon get sick of the new pillows and the cycle will continue. As I write this I am reminded that our joy is not found in things. It is not found in the scent of a candle or good music or yummy food. Our joy will only come from the Lord. If you are feeling joyless open the Word and get with the Lord. That is what your eyes need to be seeing.

If you missed part one and two of this series you can read about SMELL here and TASTE here.

Go on to read about the HEARing sense here.