As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Welcoming Window

We have had this little Christmas tree in our dining room for years, decorated simply, with white lights, rafia garland, and yarrow picked from the backyard each July.

But there was a year that I needed to simplify.  It was the year that I was on modified bed rest with a difficult pregnancy, and I decided that we could certainly do without dozens of cookies and fresh cut greenery...and this small tree.  Ron kept asking when we were going to put up the dining room tree, and I kept saying that we could do without it this year.



Then one evening I was called into the dining room...as decorating consultant.  Ryan was home on college break, and Ron had enlisted his help.  So the two of them assembled and trimmed the little tree, while I sat in a chair and directed this small scale operation.  (As I recall, I eventually got up and helped with the yarrow.)

I kept wondering why this Christmas tree seemed to be so important to Ron. Why did he insist that it be decorated? There was the tree in the living room, and other festive touches elsewhere. Wasn't that enough for this year of simplifying?


Then I learned the reason.

It was not this view that was so important to him...





...it was this view.



Ron told me that this is the view that he sees when he gets home from work at the end of the day.  It is a welcoming window to him.  It says that the long day is over.  It says now you are home.  It says it is Christmas inside.

So now each year as we decorate the little dining room tree, I think of it as Ron's tree, a part of his welcoming window. 

9 comments:

  1. Cheryl, this brings tears to my eyes. It speaks to me on such a deep level. I am so moved.

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  2. Ohhhh, that makes so much sense. What a profound thought.

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  3. I can understand that, absolutely.

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  4. Lovely post, and beautiful photographs to go with it! These are good thoughts to ponder. Thanks.

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  5. I have tears in my eyes too!

    Too often I think of me, and not what may mean something special to my children and husband! Especially when it comes to decorating...

    Thank you for this beautiful visual of how we as home keepers really do affect how welcome our families feel coming home...

    Deanna

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  6. That is just beautiful Cheryl... Creating a home is creating moods, creating vision, creating peace and sharing love. What a treasure your Ron is. I love a man who appreciates the things his woman does... so much so that he wants to recreate them when she can't!

    Have a wonderful day...

    Blessings, Debbie

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  7. Wow- what a lovely story. This is a great reminder of the reason we decorate our homes! It's not to put them on our blogs (haha!), but so that our families and friends can enjoy the warmth and beauty of a place that is truly Home.

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  8. Cheryl,I am so touched by this! and once again I am tearing up! Love has no limit as proven here on your blog.
    I always leave, so blessed, and inspired.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  9. I, too, am touched and instructed by "Ron's tree". Have a blessed and merry Christmas, Cheryl.

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