We had our house repainted, along with minor repairs, recently and I couldn’t help but think about the work of restoration that our God is doing and the resulting joy.
The joy in getting started (beginning)
When we first moved in, three years ago, we did some minor repairs ourselves to fix holes in the walls. These holes were from small things like nails or screws, and also bigger damage from wall-mounted TVs. We repaired them because it was necessary work. But, we didn’t get around to actually finishing the job by painting the walls after the repair because of busyness and fatigue from our moving in and getting settled. We’re a family of five, our kids were all elementary school-age at the time and we homeschool, so the days were full to begin with. The plan was to paint the house ourselves in time, room by room, whenever we could.
Three years later, my husband got a new client who does professional painting. The company is called GreenTech Painting and they’re based in London, Ontario. Our need and their expertise lined up and, before I could overthink it, they were hired to finish the work.
Sometimes, focusing on the scope of a project, when you’re already exhausted, can keep you from getting started. It can lead to procrastination. I find that it’s helpful to break up the work into phases, or smaller actionable items, and tackle the project bit by bit. Getting started, even if that means doing just one small thing, can be enough motivation to continue.
The joy in the process (journey)
It took three and a half days for the work to be completed. It was uncomfortable at times as we are all home and this house doesn’t have a lot of living spaces to which we could escape while the painters did their thing. Also, the exterior doors had to be left open while they came and went, and the early-April spring weather was chilly. At one point, the kids and I were huddled together in the principal bedroom for most of the day. This is the place where I, an introvert, usually retreat to for some quiet to recharge. The interruption to our daily routine and not having the space or time to recharge was personally challenging. I had to reach for the joy and there was plenty with the right perspective.
One of the joys was just being with the kids. Yes, I am with them pretty much every day but this was a bit different. We had to put aside the regular routine with school and chores, etc. and just have fun together in the experience. We brought snacks and games up to our room and just hung out. It was fun just because it was different; a break from the day-to-day.
The other prominent joy was seeing the transformation as the painters worked. As they patched the walls we were surprised by the damages that we missed and were glad they were repaired. As they smoothed the patches and then painted, and as the colours went from dark to light, our spirits lifted as well.
As I reflected on that, I marvelled at the restorative work God is doing and how He invites us to participate. He leads us into places where He intends to do a work of renewal, of transformation, and we partner with Him in that work. As we make updates and repairs to our home, making it more beautiful and hospitable, we image our Creator.
Focusing on the duration of the journey and the difficulty in the midst of the challenge itself can truly steal our joy. Seeing the ongoing transformation in the process gives hopeful glimpses of the end to come that motivates us to keep going and continue the work.
The joy in the end result (destination)
The colours before painting were a dark mauve in the stairway and upstairs hall, and a yellow ochre in the main floor. The colour we went with is an off-white or cream hue called Floral White by Benjamin Moore. I jokingly considered, at first, about going with a “dirt” coloured hue, given my experience with my family and their treatment of walls. But now, I’m glad that we followed the painters’ recommendation because it really does brighten the space. The finish is an eggshell matte which is good for patched walls because it hides any imperfections while still being durable and washable.
With the work done, our home is now more hospitable and welcoming than it was before. Usually, when I think about hospitality, I think about welcoming and serving people who come into our homes. However, I’ve come to see the importance of extending hospitality within our home. That is, making our home a welcoming place for ourselves as well. When we walk in the hallways, we feel invited to smile and take a breath. When we sit together in the living room, we feel invited to relax and be calm. As we live in the cleaner looking space, we’re encouraged to keep it clean as well.
Our God is dishing out joy every day; in abundance! He is turning darkness to light, bringing dead things to life, and restoring what is old by making it new. There is much joy to be had in the final result, of course, but also in the in-between process of transformation; if we have the eyes to see. Where do you see a need for restoration? Will you reach for the joy?