By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its room are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. ~Proverbs 21:3-4
A home can tell us so much about the people who live in it. The colors featured, the style of furniture, accessories displayed, art on the walls. When one looks with discerning eyes, a portrait of the residents begins to emerge.
Looking at these photos of my mother's home before our family must begin the task of redistributing/giving away the furnishings, can you draw any conclusions? Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to share your deductions here. But I will say this: the home in Oxford has always felt inviting, comfortable, welcoming, and tasteful - a place of security and love.
And now, one that by necessity, must be dismantled.
Fortunately, between my brother and me, our families, and the family of my mother's beloved housekeeper, most of the furniture and fixtures will find new homes. Here are just a few of the items that now grace our house.
In adding these tangible items to our living space, my hope is that they will carry the intangible memories of Mom and Dad and the home in which they lived for so many years. A home whose doors of welcome were ever open to anyone and everyone who stopped by. A warm and expansive place that always made others feel loved and valued.
If furnishings can do that, they are, indeed, rare and beautiful treasures.
Ones that embody the wisdom, understanding and knowledge of a generation gone before.
Amen!
I join you in those prayers Ms. Martha. It is not the 'things' that make our home my friend, but the memories those things hold. As I viewed the small stand, I wondered "Did that once house her mama's Bible? Or perhaps it's where the stationary was stored she used to write to her great granchildren." Looking at the armoire, "Is that where she kept her "Sunday clothes'?" And the table, "Oh, how many meals were shared around that. Can't you hear the laughter? The deep after meal discussions over coffee?" These things contain the memories of a life well-lived gentle friend. A legacy of love and faith that is now being distributed and poured out to those who follow. God's blessings ma'am.
ReplyDeleteYou have expressed my sentiments exactly, J. D. It is in the memories that the objects trigger, not the objects in and of themselves that are to be treasured. And you've asked such good questions here as you wonder about memories held and cherished. I do hope that one day my grandchildren will value what I leave for them with the same sentiment and love.
DeleteLove and blessings!
It's a hard thing. I remember dismantling my mother's house, under her supervision -- she was having to go into assisted living. I've reached an age when I consider my own house as well. Most of the furniture and paintings tell a story -- the chest of drawers that was our first purchase as young marrieds, the painting by the man who grew up with my mother and her siblings, the book that turned out to be my favorite Christmas present in 1961, and the book my mother used to read fairy tales to me -- my earliest memory of reading. Rightfully and naturally, they'll mean less to our children, who are creating their own. But it all still creates a sad smile.
ReplyDeleteA sad smile . . . Yes, our memories can certainly be bittersweet, Glynn, and you've shared such cherished ones here. It isn't easy dismantling a parent's home, that's for sure, but we can take comfort in the things that evoke precious memories for us. What a great list you have of things still owned and treasured!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Your parents had style. Love and good faith too. And so have you. What a legacy.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It is quite the legacy, Victor, and I am so grateful to have these few things that bring back wonderful memories.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Looking at the pictures sort of gives me a sense of quiet and calm Martha. I hope they do that for you as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, they certainly do that for me, Bill, and that's so heartening and comforting at the same time.
DeleteLove and blessings!
A portrait of the residents, yes! That fireplace is exquisite, and the flooring so warm. We we to mysteriously vanish, I wonder what conclusions strangers would make about our own living quarters.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful how physical objects evoke such emotion? Funny you should blog about this today; I've had a similar-theme post that's been floating around my consciousness for a while now.
All I can say is, great minds think alike, Myra. :) You should definitely write down your thoughts, my friend. And it is fun to imagine what conclusions others would draw about us in just looking at our furnishings, isn't it? I just hope I can honor my parents' memories by cherishing these few positions.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, what lovely memories those items must mean to you. I have some of my mother’s things too. It is not so much the items as the feeling you have when you look at them. I have one of Mama’s quilt tops, and I love to touch it because it brings her smile and warmth. God bless you, sweet friend. Hugs
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you have one of your mother's quilts, Nells - so tactile and simply chockful of memories! I was able to take a quilt from my mother's home, too, though it isn't one she made. Still, it conveys the coziness of her home, and it certainly is adding texture to the room where Virginia sleeps when she stays with us.
DeleteLove and blessings!
You have some beautiful pieces, Martha. And I'm sure beautiful memories that come with them. I have a chair that was my grandmother's and is about 150 years old. It has been re-upholstered, but the frame and side wood pieces with inserts are all original.
ReplyDeleteOh, Karen, that is so cool to have something that belonged to your grandmother like this chair, and that the original frame is still intact! I'm sure your children and grandchildren will cherish this, too, in the years to come.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, bless you, Martha. I know how hard it is to dismantle your parents' home and to see it dispersed to the four winds. That is what happened when both my parents were finally gone, and it was very hard to see. I am thankful to have some special pieces and memories to go along with it, but it's funny, I still can envision my parents' home just the way it was. I don't ever want to go back there again and see it with different furniture and people in it. I prefer to remember it the way it was, and to cherish the memories of a wonderful life there. I am so glad you have some beautiful pieces to pass down someday to your family. I hope you will teach them about the significance of those furnishings...I especially love that you have a dining table and chairs...if your home was like my family home, "oh the stories those chairs could tell around that table..." Precious memories. What a blessing!! (((hugs))) to you my friend. Bittersweet times, I know.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Pam, bittersweet is the perfect adjective. I know from all you've shared at your blog that you cherish the memories your family have left to all of you, and that imagining our parents' home gives us so much comfort and reassurance, even though we know we can never go back in time to enjoy it once again.
DeleteGod does want us to move forward, making a difference for His kingdom, but not forgetting those who went before to inspire and encourage. If the objects of the past inspire us to work for His kingdom, who could possibly argue with that?
Love and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteYour Parents managed to have a NEST, not just a place where some 'sterile looking' pieces of furniture are being placed, according to examples in a catalogue or magazine.
It reflects the owners' soul in many ways and it alway did envelope the family members with warmth and love...
Glad you were able to bring some of those pieces home with you.
WISH I could do that with things from Mom & Dad.
Still some religious pieces (copper and wood) are waiting at my best friend's place for me to retrieve. But we cannot go, still a quarantine of 10 days and for Pieter and me it would be too stressful.
ENJOY yours.
Hugs,
Mariette
Indeed, Mariette, my folks did manage to build quite the nest while they lived in this one-of-a-kind, historical house. I'm so glad I could bring bits and pieces of it home with me.
DeleteI know you would have loved to do the same, but living so far away from the homeland is so problematic. It's wonderful that your friend is saving some religious items for you; they will be there when all the travel restrictions are finally lifted, and we can all safely go where we want. I agree that going at the present time would be way too stressful.
Love and blessings!
💞
DeleteI think of my mother every time I use or pass one of the things I kept. Sweet memories, Martha!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to have things/pass things that give us sweet reminders of our parents? So special, Lulu!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Places and items that hold memories and are priceless to us!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Jean, they are!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dismantling a home is a hard task because it stirs up so many thoughts and emotions. I've done it twice with parents and in-laws. It is my hope that by the time my children have to do this for me, I will have made the task easier for them.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I hope, too, Barbara. I sure hate the thought of putting my children through the breaking up of a home after I'm gone. Let's hope that we can both make it easier for our kids.
DeleteLove and blessings!
oh i love that you and i are kinda talking about the same subject today, friend! my mom and dad's table and chairs now grace our dining room, replacing the cheap set that we had used for decades. i think of them often as we use it.
ReplyDeletei have things from my grandma that i still enjoy, too.
unfortunately, i have kept too many treasures from the ancestors and continue ferreting out what i love and must keep and other things that need to leave the premises.
less is more.
It certainly is possible to hang on to too many things, Linda, but I'm convinced that if they convey sweet memories, they are worth holding onto, at least while we are here to enjoy them. Like your old table, ours was about 30 years old and had certainly seen better days. I especially love that we could replace it with something special and full of good memories.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dismantling a home is so hard. :( I remember doing that with my parents' home (my childhood home) just a few years ago. It's such sentimental work. I kept a few things to bring to my own home too. Blessings as you do this, Martha.
ReplyDeleteVery bittersweet and sentimental, Lisa, that's for sure. Being able to keep something of value for the sake of memory does go far to take away the sting of having to shed ourselves of so much. Glad you were able to keep some special pieces for your home.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, Martha! It made me so sad to think of you having to go in and know that no new memories will be made in that dear home! It is so beautiful! It reminds me of a southern mansion, and I can only imagine all the precious times you all had together behind those walls! I am so happy the beautiful furnishings are making their way into your and your loved ones' homes so new memories can now be made. It is so hard to let go of the past - I struggle so with this. May God bless you and give you special grace on this hard journey, sweet friend. I hope you are feeling well today and continuing to gain strength. Sending love and hugs your way!
ReplyDeleteIronically, this home IS a southern mansion of sorts, Cheryl. It is called the Hopkins House, named after a president of Emory in the 1800s who lived there and who went on to found Georgia Tech. I believe the original part of the home was constructed in the 1840s, but I could be a few years off; I'll have to look it up.
DeleteEmory is very lucky to be buying this property as it will serve the historical legacy of the campus. I do hope that whoever occupies it next will come to appreciate its beauty and charm.
Love and blessings!