Yesterday I spent hours picking out the perfect flowers and wreaths that will decorate my home from April through August. To some, this will seem like a waste of time and money, but it brings me joy to invest thoughtfully and intentionally in the design and feeling of my home. The way I select just the right shade of fresh rose or carefully position the wreath on my front door matters, not in the long run, but in my choice to be intentional in small, everyday, ordinary things. If we choose to be intentional with the little things, we’ll have the muscles built to be disciplined and intentional in our bigger decisions as well.

My church family often says, “matter matters,” because God created matter and called it good. That means the way I wipe down the piano and vacuum the floors (again) matters. Stopping and tending to my overgrown houseplants rather than walking by and making yet another mental note matters. The very walls of my home matter because they create the space that offers rest and comfort to many, myself included. As I choose to celebrate the matter around me, I am actually making a kingdom investment because seeking beauty in the short term is an eternal investment in my soul. Cultivating beauty in the matter around me is a form of worship that causes me to give thanks to God for his good creation, including the creation of my eyes that find joy in little things like fresh-cut flowers.

As the air gets warmer and the earth starts to bloom outside, spring beckons us to open the windows and bring new life and light into our homes. How might you cultivate beauty in your home this Spring? What colors, textures, or sounds bring you joy? What items or activities bring you peace? What objects bring stress and clutter, and can they be changed or removed?

Spring cleaning offers an opportunity to reassess our physical spaces, but also our hearts and dreams. These first days of April as the midwest is finally thawing, I find myself returning to my annual goal to get outside and go on more walks. I am dreaming of little things like making iced tea this summer and maybe starting a garden. I am planning roadtrips with old friends and scheming backyard bonfires to get to know new friends. I am taking inventory of my life, weighing which aspects are well balanced, what needs to be removed, and with whom or where I need to be more thoughtful. So much of what makes my heart come alive boils down to the intentionality I give and receive in friendship and spaces. How we live our days is how we spend our lives, and I want to look back on a life invested in the places and people I love.

Maybe you don’t find joy in a clean house and organized life as I do, but I believe we can all name things that make us feel more happy and grateful to be alive. This spring, let the turning of seasons be a fresh start in your heart and a time of removing what is dead in order to make room for what is new. Take inventory of your inner life in addition to your home, and take an intentional step to pursue freedom. What makes your heart come alive? Who makes you smile biggest and laugh hardest, and do you have time to be with them? Do you feel like a person, or a robot going through the motions of your life? When is the last time you paused to feel the warmth of the sun and breathe deeply? I’m convicted by these questions myself, because I often feel more robotic than human. But mindfulness and intentionality help me take steps towards freedom, and each “I feel like a person!” moment gives me reason to celebrate. What a joy it is to look back and know we’ve lived well!

Today I am grateful for the wreath on my front door, the tulips in my living room, and the blue sky I noticed when I went for a walk simply for the purpose of enjoying the weather. The smallest moments matter; they even have the ability to bring life to our souls.