The Steady Home: Little Church

Seeing the sacred in your home.

For indeed a house is a little church.

- St. John Chrysostom

I love this little sentiment so much, I embroidered it to display it in our home. It serves as a beautiful, physical reminder to us all that our dwelling place is so much more than a shelter.

This fragment of wisdom is part of a much larger homily echoing the same principle. Whether you are religious or not, Chrysostom’s comparison of a home to a church certainly has merit.

A home is a place where sacrifices are made. It’s a place where rituals are sacred and virtues held in the highest esteem. It’s a place for fellowship and communal praise. It’s where we are constantly implored to practice charity. Grace and forgiveness are poured out in abundance. There’s a tangible sense of belonging. Its leaders are entrusted with maintaining the delicate tension between sturdiness and tenderness. A steadiness, if you will.

If you were to walk into our home on a given weekday, you might have some gripes about how our little church is maintained. It’s far from a quiet, reverent sanctuary. School books are strewn about our table, toys cascade out of cabinets, and teacups and cookie crumbs seem to perpetually litter the counter. Our “Sunday Best” is often pajamas. You might see a cute boy running into the house with muddy boots being chased by an equally adorable boy with wild curls. All while their big sister cradles the baby, rolling her eyes and affectionately whispering, “these crazy boys…” But I can tell you, in our messiness, you will find immense love. A passion for seeking knowledge, a deep faith in things larger than ourselves, a desire to laugh and play, an appreciation for good food and drinks, and children who are treasured simply for their souls.

I would like to think if we were to welcome St. John Chrysostom into our little church, he wouldn’t seek stillness, silence, and orderly little pews. He’d smile at the giggles set to background music, the smell of a loaf of bread getting a bit too dark in the oven, and couch pillows stacked up in a fort. And he’d recognize a little church, very much alive and well.

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Sunday Dinner

A warm March day calls for outdoor grilling and lots of herbs.

-Herb marinated chicken thighs over lemon dill risotto

-Roasted eggplant with toum and pine nuts

-Rounded it all out with Maroulosalata and homemade pita - and my sweet Sammy giving a thumbs up in approval!