Building Around Something Beautiful

Having moved into my childhood home a few years ago, we are excited to be doing some remodeling and redecorating. And so I’ve been doing a different sort of creating over the past month or two—working on creating our home.

While indulging in Pinterest exploration and time on Facebook Marketplace, I came across a true statement piece of a mirror—a large, beautifully carved wood mirror with birds and floral motifs. I instantly fell in love with it.

It became the centerpiece for our “new” half-bath, around which every decision—from wall color, to light fixture, to flooring—was checked. Did it complement the mirror? Was it in harmony with the mirror?

It got me thinking about how we plan and build our lives—and what we choose to build them around. When I make choices through the lens of what I deeply value and allow what is good and beautiful to guide and shape my decisions, many questions and doubts drop away. What initially seemed overwhelming suddenly simplifies when I reorient and refocus myself toward the good and beautiful. The time, energy, and effort I spend feels purposeful and good, because it is time spent living from my heart, rooted in God.

And what could be a better place for my heart—my center—to be focused on? God—who is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness itself!

Yes, we think our bathroom turned out beautifully, guided by that lovely mirror.
​But far more importantly, I’m learning that as I keep my focus on God—continually returning to Him—He guides me, as only He can, in creating a deeply beautiful life.

If this reflection stirred something in you, you’re warmly invited to receive Notes from the Bower each month—quiet letters filled with nature reflections, glimpses from the studio, and small moments of beauty and joy. You can join here.