My Basement

This last September our family moved from Idaho, back to our roots in Montana. We prayed for the perfect home for our family in a tough market. Other people prayed for this home as well and even gave prophetic words over it. When it came on the market, we were drawn to it and knew it was the one. Now being in the house for almost four months, I have found great peace and comfort here. This home is unique, a little quirky and has many surprises, one being our basement. 

The main floor is lovely. Big windows overlooking the entire Helena Valley. There are four fireplaces, wood floors, dim lighting and simply states, “come in and put on your sweatpants, drink a cup of cocoa and rest by the crackling fire.” Then, there is the basement… It is outdated, a little smelly, it has half-ripped off wallpaper full of pink roses, vines and I honestly don’t even know what else. The bathroom sink leaks, there is a plethora of stinkbugs crawling around in October, and the doors have such big gaps that I hang my husband’s Carhart jacket over the knob to keep the winter cold out. 

Whenever we have guest over, they step through the front door, and their first reaction is always filled with smiles and pleasant compliments, then if I feel comfortable enough, I bring them downstairs. I always get nervous for this part and start explaining right away all the things we want to do to update the space. It is easy to read people as soon as they see the kitchen that looks like it’s from 1970, I can hear them think, “why and what is this, and why is it in the basement?” They have giggles and say things like, “wow this really is different from upstairs, or it’s not too bad, but definitely needs some work,” in their kind way. Regardless of comments, I feel quite insecure about my old basement at times, and then it hit me. I am my house. A lot of people see my upstairs life on social media, or when they meet me and my family, but many have never seen my life basement. 

The thing is, we all have basements that we sometimes would rather not share with anyone. We have the ripped wallpaper, the flower laminate flooring, and we even have the stink bugs. Most of the time, this is not the part people see, but God has so kindly reminded me the importance of the basement reveal not only in my home. I am a recovering people pleaser and showing the stink bugs in my life can be a daunting and humiliating task, but one I have seen the importance of and the healing that takes place when you let people into those parts.

When I have taken people into my actual home basement, I feel excitement when it is someone I trust, and they understand the vision and goals of how to make it better. They are like the basement cheerleaders, “you could knock this wall down here and you could add new flooring there, it could be absolutely gorgeous!” These are the people that you can also let into your life basement. These are the ones that do not nit-pick each detail that is wrong with your home and tell you how it is quite hideous. You stand embarrassed and know they are grateful that they don’t have the “same” basement. Find the people that will encourage you when they see that part. The ones that cheer you on when you let the light come into some of your darker places. Ephesians 5 tells us to expose the darkness by shining light on it, and when it is visible it is illuminated and becomes the light!

A dear friend and I send each other a grape emoji when we need prayer in a certain area. We do not need to say a word, simply send the grape and we know exactly what that means.  We have trusted each other with our basements and help each other to cast vision and allow the light to shine in the darker places. Let us all be reminded to trust the people God has placed in our lives, to be okay with being honest and transparent and to remember that everyone of us all have basements that we can shed some light on.  

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

As we continually work on our life basements, I am pleased to say that we will also be working on our home basement and I will be sharing some before and after pictures on the blog with you all! This will be a fun journey to say the least! Blessings!