It's almost mid-December, and the holiday season is upon us!

Over the first few days of this month, I decorated my house for Christmas. This year, I tried to put less pressure on myself to complete the task in one fell swoop. I made countless trips up and down the stairs to the attic, retrieved one box or bin at a time, and "applied" the decor to its appropriate spot- typically different from previous years. It was a multi-day process, which was fine since I had no reason to stress about a deadline. It was up to me how I approached the task, and I chose to be mindful about enjoying the process and taking delight in the season.

I have been curating Christmas decorations over the last thirty-six years of marriage. Some items are from those very early days when my style was in its infancy, and new additions are added each year. The inside is done, including The North Carolina Fraiser Fir adorned with colored lights this year- a significant change for me, but I am loving it! The outside is complete unless I can get Ken to bring down the reindeer and sleigh, but he's been so busy, so if not this year, maybe next year (and we’ll put our little grandbaby in the sleigh for a photo-op), we'll see what happens. However, the word dwelling struck me as I read from my daily devotional, Jesus Listens, by Sarah Young. 

Her little books are daily moments of reflection. I can't say it requires much effort, but it is a reminder that one- Jesus is calling us to himself, and two- he is listening. If you think about it, who else is always calling and listening for us? I suppose He's been doing this since that first Christmas (whatever month or day it was in history- more to ponder), but for today it is the word dwelling that struck a chord. 

I have always loved creating a place called home, whether it was in the walls of our first and thankfully brief, ugly apartment or our current fourth house, my favorite, so far. All the places called home were special, but never felt like a dwelling place, until now.

The word dwelling seems a bit cold- like a shelter. Yes, it can mean a home, but a dwelling, to me, denotes something less. Yet, God chose a cold and drafty stable or cave to place his beloved son. Not a warm, cozy house adorned with comfort (like I'm trying to create). Furthermore, as the text reads, made Your dwelling among us, implies both past and present tense. What a wonder and a gift- God sent his son to earth, born in a lowly manger, and later left the Holy Spirit to continue to dwell with us and in us today. So maybe the word dwelling means so much more!

From decorating to dwelling to decorating with dwelling in mind.

I want my house to be a place that is warm and cozy, not cold and drafty-figuratively speaking. I love to spend time fusing about, trying to make the aesthetics feel right. I want others to feel comfortable sitting for a meal or opening a gift. But, I suppose, as long as there is love in the house or dwelling, the aesthetic really doesn't matter (just ask Mary- she’ll tell you this is true). As much as I enjoy the aesthetics around me, it’s when loved ones are present that makes the house a home and the place where I dwell- is merely a structure to hold the ones I love. All who enter will hopefully feel warmth and love as they stay and linger for hours or days this holiday season (and beyond).

May the spirit of Christmas reach your dwelling and enter your soul profoundly and miraculously this Christmas season.