“From the Hart” Devotional for August 8, 2024

“The House that Built Me”
by Julie Hart, Director of Connectional Ministries

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3-4

“I thought if I could touch this place or feel it, this brokenness inside me might start healing. Out here, it’s like I’m someone else. I thought that maybe I could find myself. If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave. Won’t take nothin’ but a memory from the house that built me.” — “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert

Our childhood homes are more than mere buildings; they are sacred spaces where God’s wisdom has intricately woven the tapestry of our lives, laying the foundation for who we have become. This week, the homework given in the letter-writing workshop series that I co-lead with a friend was to reach out to the current inhabitants of our childhood homes — an exercise in connecting our past to the present through the grace and guidance of God. Miranda Lambert’s poignant lyrics capture the essence of this journey. The song echoes a profound yearning to return to a place that has been a vessel of personal transformation. It speaks to a deep desire to find healing and reconnect with that which has shaped us.

When I reflect on my childhood home, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and wonder at how God’s hand guided the moments and memories made there. —- The front porch, where my grandpa sat enjoying the canyon breeze, was a space of serene comfort, a daily reminder of God’s steadfast presence in our lives. Outside my bedroom window, the Potawatomi plum tree offered tiny plums each summer. And the picture window in the kitchen, where my cat Scorpio often wandered as a part of the everyday rhythms of our home.

In a recent virtual tour of my childhood home using Google Earth, I saw the house partially obscured by lush bushes and cheerful sunflowers, which now adorn the yard. It’s a beautiful reminder of how God continues to bless and transform spaces, even as they evolve with time. As I prepare to write my letter, I am filled with a sense of peace and deep appreciation for what that house was to me.
I invite you to do the same.

Questions
1. How have the changes in your childhood home, as seen through Google Earth or similar tools, affected your emotional connection to the house, and what specific alterations stand out to you as you revisit those memories? Reflect on how these changes may be a reminder of God’s ongoing work in your life and the lives of others.

2. Which specific memories associated with different features of the house and yard—such as the front porch, plum tree, or picture window—bring you the most comfort or nostalgia, and how do these memories shape your feelings about the home? How do these memories remind you of His love and guidance during your formative years?

3.. Looking at your home through an adult lens, how do you see that you grew into the person that you are today in the time that you lived there? Reflect on how your experiences in this home have prepared you for your current journey. Consider how God has used these experiences to mold and shape you into the person you are today.

PRAYER:
God of all spaces, we thank You for the homes that have nurtured our hearts and souls. As we reflect on these cherished places, both through our memories and modern tools, help us to find peace and gratitude in our hearts. Bless those who now reside in our childhood homes, Lord. May they be surrounded by Your comfort, joy, and a profound sense of belonging. Guide us in sharing our reflections with love and grace, extending Your blessings to them on their own journeys. Amen.