It was way back in 2013 when I first started writing down my thoughts about the art of turning a house into a home. That was when I began sharing the column of this blog I call THE HOUSE DOCTOR. I chose to do this for many reasons:
A HOME SHOULD BE A SANCTUARY
It is my personal belief (as a Christian filled with God’s Holy Spirit and following Jesus Christ) that the home is a very important place of sanctuary. It is our refuge from the world. Our little corner of the earth that is safe and comfortable.
The dictionary describes the word ”sanctuary” as: a holy and sacred place, a shelter from the storms of life, a place of rest and refuge; a place of peace.
When the church first started meeting there were no temples or church buildings. Early Christians met inside each other’s homes. Each man was the priest of his own home. Each woman was in charge of keeping a Godly home.
Each person stepping over the threshold of these in-house meetings probably felt as if the place they called “home” was their own little personal sanctuary.
God’s people were to worship daily, and this passion was usually done behind the walls of their own homes; in their own personal spaces.
1 Peter 2:9 speaks of how each person who knows Christ as their Savior is actually a priest. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. “
HISTORY REPRESENTS THE PATTERN OF THE HOME AS A SANCTUARY
When special things happened in history; God gave instructions to the people as to what should be done at their homes. Remember what God said regarding that first long ago Passover in Egypt?
Remember that the doorpost of each home was to have the blood of the lamb sprinkled over it?
God recognized the homes of His people; and He blessed those who chose to honor Him in their homes.
It is with this in mind that I have come to think of my home as a type of sanctuary of sorts; a place that honors God; and a place where everyone can feel safe and loved and secure.
THE HOME AS THE MAIN SANCTUARY
If the church building that we go to burns down tomorrow; we still have our main sanctuary; our home.
The home is the first sanctuary; the place where God is worshiped every day in all that we do.
So many of Our LORD’s teachings happened around a table inside a structure called a house; which was actually someone’s home.
THE TABLE INSIDE THE HOME
I strongly feel that each home should have a table; a gathering place where hearts meet to share a meal and share their blessings of the day. Most, if not all, meals should take place here.
When I think of my own kitchen and my own dining room; I try to think of God’s table. The two main tables inside our home have been dedicated to God’s service. Our goal is for all that goes on there to follow the love and care of Jesus.
If you stop to think of the reality of this, you may recall your own life experiences where it became obvious to you that many of the things happening right inside day-to-day life and around your own kitchen table were actually more sacred than much of the things experienced inside a building dedicated to religious services; or within the community where people go to worship God.
It is not that the community building is wrong; it is just that in most cases when these sacred processes do not first start within the home and around the kitchen or dining room table; the building in the community will not be able to live up to its reputation.
It all starts at home.
THE HOME AS A PLACE OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Most feelings about home and worship start when we are small children. As we grow the transformation of Christ living within us takes us on to a place of deeper maturity. There is no place more helpful for this growth and development to take place than the Christian Home.
A HOUSE IS A BUILDING; A HOME IS A DWELLING PLACE
Notice; I say “home” and not “house.” A house is a building, but a “home” is a dwelling place.
It is my constant goal for my home to be a special dwelling place for those who have Christ living within their hearts. I hope it is a place where people can meet Christ, get to know Him, learn to follow Him and practice His ways.
ANY PLACE CAN BE A CASTLE
It has been my fun experience to discover that any place can be a castle. This would apply to even a tiny little apartment, or even a one room building, or even a hotel room, or an alleyway with simply a chair to sit upon; as long as the person living within the space has a heart with a zest for love and life.
For example; when we first moved into our present house we were looking for a place that would sleep six people. A bed for everyone was the biggest requirement we had. It wasn’t easy finding a building that we could afford to live in which had room for each of four children to have their own space, a married couple to have their own room, and a space with one extra room in which our frequent house guests could stay. That would mean six bedrooms! That was a lot, and quite frankly; it didn’t fit into our budget.
Finally we found a place that was spacious enough. It wasn’t fancy; and it needed lots of work. It was not new at all; but everyone would be able to have their own space. We decided to be thankful for our spaces and let God take it from there.
To my surprise; the children, who were used to having to share spaces, thought it was a wonderful home!
They did not care at all if the walls were dull of paint, or the floor wasn’t perfectly groomed. Every child had longed for their own space, and they had now attained what they sought after. Each child truly felt we had moved into a castle!
To hear them talk to their friends you would think we had bought a large mansion on a hilltop instead of a modest, fixer-upper house in a rural neighborhood.
EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE A STORY ELEMENT
To make matters even more blown out of proportion, my husband told the children that his family name meant “landowner” and that the Landgrafs who originally hailed from Germany were counts and great landowners.
He mentioned to them that a few of those Landgraf’s had even built and inhabited a famous old castle in a beautiful old German town.
He expressed his lifelong desire to visit that castle and everyone got all excited about the idea. We all dreamed of going there.
Eventually, we talked of making our own Landgraf Castel right in the spot where we were. The story element for our home began to come alive.
Without a moment’s hesitation, we all began calling our own home “Landgraf Castle.” It fit the moment and it stuck forever. To this day, when we speak of our home we will often call it “the castle.” My daughter even gave us a sign to place on the mantle that says “LANDGRAF CASTLE.” I have a friend who makes wine and she made us our own Castle Reserve.
Sometimes people who don’t understand look at us funny.
We just smile.
That began my fascination with the whole idea that any home can become a castle if enough people have a heart for making it so. I also decided that every real home has a story hiding somewhere within the walls.
MAKING A HOME IS ABOUT SHARING THE SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE
The” castle” has now taken us through many seasons of life. If you read this blog at all; I’m sure you have noticed that I’m very into “seasons,” even more than I’m into “castles.”
One pleasant discovery in all of my seasonal celebrating at our home was the fact that our home could become the center stage for displaying our love and appreciation for each of God’s beautiful seasons.
Thus; I began the changing of the seasons at The Castle. Every new season brought a new decorating adventure. Each adventure stood for something significant and was a teaching platform for my family.
HAPPY HOMES HOLD JOYFUL CELEBRATIONS
We held celebrations that celebrated God’s Holy Days each season. This helped the children learn to appreciate God’s clock.
We also followed the traditional and seasonal celebrations of our culture and our nation inside our home. This gave the children traditional values and a rich heritage to be proud of.
We followed all the loveliness of each season and brought its elements inside to live with us. All of the celebrating of the seasons truly gave new life and joy to a house that started out a dull place with nothing in its personality but simply enough bedrooms. We no longer had a fixer-upper; but we had a castle that was in constant celebration. We were always living life inside out and upside down; and it was grand!
Each new season brought a little more updating, and a little more remodeling, and a little more celebrating of special seasons and occasions. There was never a dull moment. We were always on a tight budget; but somehow everything we needed happened just in time. Life in the home was constantly evolving and changing just like the seasons that God put into our years. Many things changed; but some things never changed. The changing things kept the constant things important.
Now I have a whole building full of “seasonal” items that my family treasures; and I bring them out when the times are appropriate. One day each of these treasures will go to the child that loved them the most to be used in their home with their children.
Most every item has a story to tell; and you know I am so fond of storytelling. I believe every home has a story! I write sometimes just to share these special stories with the world; not just about my own home, but the stories of all the many homes that we have had the privilege of knowing and loving personally.
Having a home that changes with the seasons has been a wonderful experience. I write sometimes just to share how wonderful this experience has been; and hopefully I may spark ideas that will make you want to join in with many of our seasonal celebrations.
That settles the questions about the word “castle” and the how the “seasonal” element ties into the happenings in our home; but many people also want to know why I used the word “doctor” in relation to the home.
BECOMING A HOUSE DOCTOR
Well, the answer is quite simple really; a house that isn’t loved is just a house. It takes love to make a home. That is the essence of being a house doctor; you bring love and care to a house until the transition “happens” and the house becomes a home. When the word “house” no longer seem appropriate; and the word “home” is in full force; the doctor’s work is done! The home is healed and the house is cured.
Like in the story of The Velveteen Rabbit; the house becomes REAL; and it is a home. That is the whole idea. It IS NOT about decorating; though decorating sometimes plays an important role in the transition. It IS about love and family and community living.
So, you see there are many ideas for writing in a column called THE HOUSE DOCTOR. I feel it ties right in with living out The IN SEASON Lifestyle which my blogging is all about. I hope you find these articles interesting and fun as you go about your IN SEASON Lifestyle too!
Come on in; the door is always open.