It started with the broken dishes---not that they broke all at once---but one by one, bowls, cups, and even little serving plates were disappearing.
The ones that were left were looking BAD. Chips, stains, and just the general look of wear and tear were clearly visible. Then one day when I couldn’t find a cup to drink my morning tea or any bowls to store leftovers in the fridge, it became apparent---it was time to replace my Mom’s dishes.
Not long after that, a local department store ran a sale. With store circular and coupons in hand, I headed off determined to take advantage of the discounts and buy new dishes---my dishes---for the first time in my life.
It was a big step; still it was a fun step. As I loaded up my cart with my beautiful purple dishes (that were 75% off no less) I was pretty excited. The next day, I carefully washed and dried each one before placing them in their new home in the cupboard. I even took a picture of the dinner I made that night sitting on my new purple plates. Yep, I was truly enjoying my new treasure.
Still, the Holy Spirit was not done with this new adventure. In His quiet, gentle way, that day, He started nudging me to go beyond simply purchasing new plates, and into the idea of finishing a project that was long overdue: redecorating the kitchen.
Honestly, for me, this concept was a lot harder than buying new plates. You see, several years ago when my Mom went to Heaven, we were in the middle of remodeling our kitchen. In fact, we were looking at wallpaper for the backsplash just hours before she got sick. After she died, the men came and finished installing the cabinets, but because of my heartache and grief, I was never able to finish the decorating job. Even as my heart healed and life got busier, I knew it needed to be finished, but each time I kept pushing it aside thinking, “I just can’t do it.”
However, this September, the Holy Spirit made it very clear that it was time to not just finish painting the walls and finally pick a backsplash, but to make the home I was living in my own. It was time to put my stamp on it, fill it with things that I loved and make it MY kitchen.
So after receiving A LOT of advice and encouragement from my friends, I decided to take the leap, be brave, and head off to the home improvement store to begin the nesting process. After a few weeks of paint and wallpaper samples hanging all over my kitchen and diningroom, I finally made my decision and purchased the paint for my new plum kitchen.
Not wanting to jump too far off a cliff, I chose a butter cream yellow for the diningroom with plum curtains and a plum tablecloth. Armed with coupons once again, I was able to find all new beautiful pictures and a clock again at 75% off, and last week I finished installing my new backsplash.
Being completely honest, I LOVE IT!
Even more than the décor, the entire process has been very fulfilling.
The truth is that the desire to create a home, to “nest”, to make a space that reflects our personality and welcomes others to share in our lives, is embedded into the heart of every woman. It’s a part of how God created us---it’s the creative side that He wants us to enjoy.
Unfortunately, too often as single women, we tend to put this part of us on hold, waiting until we’re married with children, or own our own home to really let this part of ourselves run free. The only problem with trying to squelch this part of our hearts is that it places us in the position of living for “someday”.
Someday when I’m married…
Someday when I’m a Mom….
Someday when I have my dream house…
Yet, the truth is that living for “someday” only leaves us feeling discontented, angry, and unsatisfied with the life that we have now. This is NEVER what God intended for His daughters.
Instead, God wants you to fully enjoy your life today.
The Bible says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
It doesn’t say wait until you have everything you want or the idyllic life you’ve imagined to rejoice, but instead, rejoice in today and make the most of it.
Can I tell you a secret? (Remember, this is just between you and me.)
The truth is that yes, at first, I avoided finishing the kitchen because of my grief. However, there was another element at play. Deep inside of me, I think I was afraid that if I started making the home I live in now my own, it meant that I had decided things in my life would never change…I’d live there forever. If I stopped waiting for someday, and started enjoying today, I was giving up hope of anything ever being different.
As these thoughts began to swirl around in my head, I considered calling off the project.
That’s when the Holy Spirit very clearly spoke these words to my mind and heart: “Choosing to enjoy where you are today doesn’t mean that things will never change in the future. It simply means that you are choosing to live every day that God gives you to the fullest: Rejoicing and being glad in it.”
The truth is that we can’t live in the past---wishing for the good old days back again or wallowing in heartache and grief beyond an appropriate time.
It’s equally detrimental if we are always living in the future, waiting for “someday” to magically appear.
Instead, we need to choose to enjoy today. Do the things we want to do and be the people God has called us to be, right now, in this moment.
For me, that means letting my nesting instincts run free and giving myself the gift of a beautifully decorated kitchen.
What does it mean for you?
What have you been putting off hoping for “someday”?
Are there parts of your personality that you’re holding back because you’re not married, not a mom, or not where you want to be in life?
What dreams should you be pursuing?
What new things do you want to try?
Is there a class, a trip, an idea, or a new hobby that you’d love to take up but you keep delaying until a better time?
Most importantly, what are God’s dreams for your life? Is there anything that He wants you to do that you’re saying, “Maybe someday when….”
Today is the day to stop living for someday and begin enjoying TODAY.
Don’t waste the moments you are given---instead live each day to the fullest.
Live. Laugh. Love.
Be the woman God has called you to be where He has place you right now, and allow Him to guide and arrange your future.
Choose to enjoy every day of your life…today, tomorrow, and forever.
