Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Prayer for a Little House

It has been almost three years to the day since my husband lost his job.  He has no immediate prospects. My family is now on the verge of losing our home.  In the moments when this knowledge pushes its way to the surface, I can't breathe and the room spins.  Was there really a time I obsessed about a larger house and looked down on this little place?  Now I would do almost anything to keep it.  

Amber's post today can be appreciated by anyone with a place to call home...


Joplin, Missouri is just down the turnpike from my hometown.  Certainly most of America has seen the news coverage of the devastation left from the tornado that wiped the town out last month.  Click here for National Geographic's coverage of  the remains of the city. 

Some family members of mine lost all they owned in that storm.  The home they had lived in for forty years, wedding albums, diplomas, treasured memories, and heirlooms passed down from their parents.  It has made me take pause and really appreciate my little home.  Count my blessings for the roof over my head and the love that my four walls hold.

A Prayer for a Little House
by Florence Bone


God send us a little home; 
To come back to when we roam.



Wooden floors and fluted tiles;
wide windows, a view for miles.


Red firelight and deep chairs;
Small white beds upstairs.

Great talk in little nooks;
soft colors, rows of books.


One picture on each wall; 
not many things at all.

 God send us a little ground;
Tall trees stand 'round.


Homely flowers in fertile sod;
Overhead, thy stars, O God


God bless thee when winds blow;
Our home and all we know.


Count your blessings!
~Amber 


Photos Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

19 comments:

  1. Love, love, love every house in this post. So pretty and welcoming. Thank you for the prayer and the beautiful photos.

    Anne

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  2. Anne, Thanks so much for stopping by and your kind words!
    Genevieve

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  3. I will pray that you have all the desires of your heart and that if you must leave your home that he leads you someplace that will be good for the soul of your family.

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  4. Comeca, Your prayers are so welcome!
    God Bless,
    Genevieve

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  5. Home is where the heart is.... someone said, so it IS painful to think of that loss.

    :(

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  6. Somedays life can just be stinky. It's times like that when I take two big steps backward and cherish my family even more.

    Genevieve, you are richly blessed with an amazing family and you have those wonderful men by your side.

    Love all the photos.

    Hugs,
    june

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  7. ...long ago i saw a documentary on the destruction left by the dust bowl in our country...years and years later a film crew came across a forgotten house...as they entered through a sagging door they found these sweet words hanging on the wall.."may God rest His eye upon this house"...nothing about houses has ever touched my heart more...may God indeed touch all the homes of the readers of this dear blog...and especially the author(and amber) who bless us so with their words of wisdom...

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  8. The thought of you losing your precious home makes me sad. I too had a home I surely didn't appreciate at the time. For different reasons and in a different way, I sold my home, purchased and renovated another only to have it taken away by the bank (yes, I owned it free and clear, but the bank made an error that cost me a year's time and effort and $40k!) We are now building a home, trying to keep it as simple as possible. We also feel that longing for a "Little House" that will protect us for the future. We have learned through this whole process that it is not the building we live in that creates 'home'... it is the people we love. I add my prayers for you and your family's home. Hugs!

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  9. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Thanks you so much for your honesty and sincerity.

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  10. Judy, how wonderful to hear from you. My heart hurts at possibility of this loss, but your kind words make it easier to bear.
    Genevieve

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  11. My dear friend June, You have watched me go through this financial and emotional crisis, and have never wavered in your support for me and my darling men. Just knowing you are there sending good thoughts my way, gives me hope that I can keep going. Thanks for walking by my side through thick and think!
    xo Genevieve

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  12. Laney, our beloved poet laureate. I wish I could run into your arms for a big hug. Thank you for the lovely bittersweet story and for the prayers for all our homes.
    Love, Genevieve

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  13. I quietly follow your blog and have been inspired by so many of your posts. My heart aches for you. I keep you in my prayers with hope for blessings on you and your family.

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  14. Genevieve,
    I have visited your blog many times before. I was so sad when I read your entry. It brought to mind one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 43:2.
    WHEN you pass through the waters, I will be with you and WHEN you pass through the rivers they will not sweep you over: WHEN you walk through the fire you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze; FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISREAL, YOUR SAVIOR. God tells us we will walk in difficult times BUT He will be with us...Sometimes we can't see the good in things but one day God will reveal it to you. You and your family are in my prayers:)

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  15. ...we miss you genevieve and amber! hugs laney

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  16. May god blessed your home and your family also to lead you always ..

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  17. ..."the little house is never too small...for love to grow"...just made me think of you dear friend...

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  18. Just checking in on you, hoping things will or have turned around :-( .... thinking of you

    melissa

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