The ability to see beauty where others might not, has shaped the way I view the world, encouraging me to look beyond surface imperfections and appreciate the quiet richness of simple moments. For example, I’ve lived in many homes throughout my life, and each one has called for loving care. In my heart, I see their beauty and meaning, imagining their potential beyond the flaws. I remember walking into spaces with ugly walls and chipped countertops yet envisioning a soulful table in the heart of the living area. The warmth from a fire, the glow of soft lighting, and the strength of the home’s bones would combine to create a nurturing atmosphere filled with simple charm. These visions have always given me the grace to settle into places that may not look pretty at first but soon become sanctuaries.

Transition to Grace

This grace reveals itself most clearly in the quiet, restful pauses that come from choosing to live authentically. It isn’t forced or performative; rather, it flows naturally through the raw beauty of daily life. It’s grace that allows me to live fully in less-than-perfect surroundings, to see lingering moments as gifts, and to settle into safe covering from long winters to discover fulfillment in the company of loved ones and gathered moments. One memory stands out: nights gathered around my kitchen table, where conversations lifted our spirits and laughter echoed long after the meal was done. The table itself may have been scratched and second hand, but the love shared across it made the room glow with warmth.

There was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the challenges of moving into a new house yet found unexpected peace during a simple dinner. We lingered together, talking about our hopes and dreams, and I realized that these small moments, the ones easily overlooked— hold the power to heal and nourish us. In each season of life, I’ve learned that beauty and grace aren’t reserved for perfect places or flawless experiences. They thrive in the ordinary, making every chipped countertop and weathered table a testament to the possibility of transformation. When we open our hearts to notice and nurture what is good, we invite grace to turn the mundane into something meaningful—within the confines of home where we can live safe and tucked away during the long days of winter.

When I moved into our home in the country, it wasn’t pretty, but it had great potential. I could picture my brown antique dining room table gracing the center of an old, worn-out room. Bright light poured into every corner from the large, old windows just outside the pasture. The table was oval, though I wished it were rectangular. Still, it called my name from a dark, uninhabited corner of a quiet antique mall. I rushed over in great anticipation because, for me, it was the most beautiful table. It was the kind with folding sides—I could place against a window or wall with a gold lamp and stacks of coffee table books. Or maybe I could put it in the living room. In the end, I placed it in the center of the “breakfast” room, which had once been the kennel room. With my mother-in-law’s country chairs—well worn, their legs scratched from years of use—arranged around it, the table reminded me of my grandmother’s, where happiness lived. The combination of those well-loved chairs and the antique table created an atmosphere filled with love and comfort, inviting joy and happiness to be our beauty.

The table and it’s room became the heart of the home.

The house was exactly the place God intended for a sweet rest and healing.  A long winter’s nap. God’s simple graces help us embrace days that may unfold differently than we thought. An invitation to walk hand in hand in the care of one day at a time. Walking along at a different pace which allows lighter steps through this next season. A new way of embracing life with more measured consistency and holding onto hope in times of uncertainty. Graceful living allows God’s mercy to hold us within the tension of life and invites us into release for something more gentle and palatable. Even the strongest of us could welcome a pause of gentle grace to discover what suits us for the next season.