Inspiration Nooks: Decor That Inspires

I love looking for little nooks and crannies in my home that can be turned into sources of inspiration.  One such place is above my kitchen sink. The kitchen is the place in my home where I am most easily discouraged.  It is the place where I am often in need of truth.  In need of reminders that God will provide and that God is in control.

The main reason I need truth in the kitchen is the dailyness of my family’s need for food.  It. Never. Ends. The bottom of the box comes all too soon and just like that the fridge and pantry are bare. Ask my twin brother and he will tell you there is never anything to tempt him in my kitchen.  Most of what we keep on hand that doesn’t disappear in 24 hours must be prepared with good old fashioned effort. Hence, the need for inspiration, encouragement, and faith.  

I need energy I don’t have, to put forth the effort I don’t want to give, to feed my family whom I love.  At least my mind knows I love them, but somehow by 4:00 in the afternoon with dinner bearing down on me and my emotions wearing thin, my heart isn’t always feeling the love.

That is why I love the silver plate that hangs above my kitchen sink.  I wish I could remember who gifted it to us, but all I know is that we received it as a wedding gift.  It must have come from someone who has learned to put her faith in God for everything.  It reads:  Give us this day our daily bread.

It is fitting that I must look up to see this reminder.  I must look up to find where my help comes from.  The Lord is the One who provides for me and my family. My hope is in Him.  He is faithful.  When I am spent, He is not.  When I am empty, He is full.

My mom was in the field of education for over 30 years.  She was a passionate classroom teacher, resource teacher, and principal.  As such she held on to tons of valuable resources that we now get to enjoy.  Just the other day we left her house with yet another stack of “new to us” books from her basement.  One of the books we came home with was The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins.  Little did I know the spiritual lesson (and tears) that awaited me.

The book begins with a mom who has prepared twelve cookies for her two children.  They are filled with glee as they eagerly count out six cookies each. Then, the doorbell rings.  In comes two friends from next door.  They share the cookies. Everyone still has three cookies.  The doorbell rings again, and again the need to share and redistribute cookies arises.  

The doorbell keeps ringing until there are twelve children surrounding the table.  One cookie for each of them.  Her two children have kept their spirits up despite the fact that their portion has progressively shrunk from six cookies to one.  And then the unthinkable happens.

The doorbell rings again.

By this point, even the mom is visibly annoyed and makes the suggestion that they should all eat their one cookie before she opens the door again. But, in unanticipated fashion her son pipes up and suggests they all wait. Humbled by her son’s generosity and patience, she and the rest of the children decide to wait to consume their sweet treat.  

The mom slowly walks to open the door.  Standing behind the door is not another mouth to feed. Behind the door is their Grandma with an entire tray of more cookies!

Oh, how this simple little children’s book stirred a noble theme in my heart.  God provides.  He wants our hearts.  He wants to turn our cold and calloused hearts into soft and generous hearts bent on loving the ones He places in our lives.  

He can turn the crumbs in our pantry and our hearts into a glorious feast.  The silver plate above my kitchen sink serves as a reminder of that truth–if only I would remember to look up.

What little nook exists in your home that could be turned into a source of inspiration?