The Lifegiving Home Book Club (Week #7)
A few years ago, on a crisp fall evening, a blazing sunset of pinks, reds, and corals lured us all outdoors. As we sat peacefully out on the deck, admiring the beauty, the front door opened, and my then 26-year-old, Joel, strode out with a weary face and exhausted body. He had worked throughout the previous night and day.
“I just decided to come home because I needed ‘us’ to give me some rest and peace.”
Dinner was still half an hour away; I quickly cut some cheese, arranged some crisp whole grain crackers on a plate, poured a bubbly drink in a glass, and gave him an offering; “Just a little something to hold you over until dinner is ready.”
The furrowed brow softened, and Joel said: “This is why I come home. I knew you all would fill back up, and I wanted peace and quiet for at least one night.”
One of the best powers of home is the life that comes from within that gives comfort, a “place to belong," and a place that soothes the soul and gives everyone a sense of belonging to one another.
Living in a fallen world means that all of us will be subject to heartbreaks, illnesses, and disappointments. Our family has certainly had its share of dark passages: surgeries, car wrecks, a fire in our home, painful breakups, depression, financial struggles, and more. It was in those times we learned the power of a home that offers refuge, a place of comfort and safety away from life's storms. Having a place and time to rest, to be encouraged, and to find hope and healing is one of the most powerful gifts in a lifegiving home.
No one home is a perfect sanctuary, of course. We will never be able to offer a foolproof refuge from all the storms of life or keep trouble from finding its way behind the walls of our home. God, after all, is our only sure source of safety. But a loving home, carefully prepared, can be a powerful source of rest, healing, and comfort.
Your Reading Assignment
This week, you and I are going to read the chapter October (Home is Best, p. 193) and November (Blessed and Blessing, p.213) in The Lifegiving Home.
More from Life With Sally
After you read this week's reading assignment, hop over to the Life With Sally Forum (button below) to join the discussion for our book club! Here is what we will be thinking, discussing, and pondering over on the forum:
On pages 200-201, I list six ways to create a home that is a place of sanctuary including: a cozy environment, comforting food and drink, healing aromas, privacy and protection, loyalty and commitment, and a listening ear. Which one of these six areas do you think you can implement in this season of your life? Perhaps it's purchasing a new candle or blanket, adding more family favorites to your meal rotation, or simply saving a few extra minutes to let your love ones unburden themselves at the end of the day.
On page 210, I discuss how to serve rest for those of you who continually serve others both inside and out of your home. I also offer a prayer for those who regularly pour themselves out to others. Take a quiet moment and pray this prayer on page 211, and think of one thing you can do today to fill your own cup. You matter so very much.
On page 222, Sarah discusses the habits of gratitude and generosity to bless others in different ways. This is a wonderful way to bless others as a family in seasons where it may be particularly difficult to do so in your own home like welcoming a new baby or preparing for a big move. What is one way you can model service for others for those in your own this week?