No Shoes or Masks Required

Most of us love coming home on most days.  I guess some of us  during this pandemic may be a little tired of being home so much but before this most of us enjoyed coming home. One of my favorite things about being at home is I dont have to wear shoes. My get home routine usually consists of hanging up keys at back door, hanging up purse, turning on the tea kettle and removing those shoes. When I opened my the Gateway Bible App this morning this was their verse of the day and my "at home" routine came to mind.

John 15:9-10 The Message

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

There is a peace of coming home after a day filled with errands, doctor appointments, taxi driving kids, working and the list goes on.  You walk through the door, let out a sigh of relief and enjoy but being yourself. Thats how Jesus wants us to feel about Him.

When I sit down to do my bible reading I have a very similar routine as I do when I come home. I take a deep breath and let it out. That letting out part is super important. My shoes are off and I can be myself. Maybe thats what bothers people about sitting down to read their bible and praying regularly. They feel they have to be or act a certain way and and its more of a chore.

This is how comfie I get when I talk to God. Lets say that I am thinking of an idea to write about for my next post. A little idea comes to mind. Next all day long I get these little ideas. Sometimes I get text messages or phone calls from friends who have no idea what I have been thinking about all day but they will mention the ideas I have been thinking about all day. This is sort of like when you are looking up things on the internet and the ads on your Facebook are for those things except your friends are not like spies. Anyway when this happens I will actually say "shut your face God you are amazing". Thats pretty dang comfie and since I have yet to be struck down by lightening and have yet to be chastised by a burning bush I am going to think that its okay with Him.

My get home routine that mentioned above helps me sort of deescalate. I am putting whatever the day out about behind me and ready to get comfortable in my home. Hanging up my purse and keys makes it much easier the next time I need to go out and not be frantically looking for them. We have three dogs so my coming in isnt as calming as it seems. When then hear me backing into the driveway they start howling. I am not even kidding I always look to see if my neighbors are anywhere outside to hear it so that I can apologize. I open the backdoor to lots of jumping and kisses.  I shut them outside go through my routine and then let them back in after I have poured my cup of tea. I was feeling a little convicted that I was painting this beautiful scene thats not exactly accurate. I honestly love their excitement to see us or anyone who comes into our home. I am not comparing God to my dogs but I am guessing Hes very excited to see us to when we sit down to talk to him.

As I get older I am all about my routines. I would encourage you if you do not have one for when you get home to think about it. Its so much easier when you have to go back out the next day if you know where keys, purses, backpacks, shoes.... are when are headed out the door and not running late looking for these things.

Same goes for your quiet time. Before I sit down to read my bible, write or pray I let my dogs out, fix a cup of tea, let the dogs back in because if I leave them out they will start barking at nothing and I will have to get up, they come in and lay down and behave. If my bed was made I would take a picture to show you how sweet they look right now. I take a deep breath and get started. I speak honestly and openly because why bother if your are not? Thats what it means to be at home in his love. You can be you, you can say you dont understand why things are going on, you can say shut your face and not catch on fire, you can be the perfectly imperfect you and know you are still loved.

This is also why its so important for us to show this "at home kind of love" to others we encounter throughout our day. They may not know Jesus or only know him through someones strict guidelines impossible rules to follow. Remember to love others the way He loves you.