In an effort so serve those who aren’t podcast listeners (and satisfy my relentless need to experiment) I’m sharing a story from The Next Right Thing Podcast here on the blog. If you’d prefer to listen, tune in to Episode 63: Make Room.
We woke up this morning to a cold, quiet house, fresh snow falling on top of yesterday’s impressive accumulation. The power went out sometime around midnight.
John carried in wood and boiled water for coffee. I emptied the fridge of perishables and packed them in ice. We read by the light of candles and our fireplace, with blankets on our laps, hands wrapped around mugs of hot instant coffee.
Then I outlined a podcast episode with a pen on actual paper so we’re basically homesteaders now.
On Sunday as the snow fell and more kids started to show up at our house, looking for a place to sit and hot chocolate to drink, John suggested we push the sofa back from the rug. It will make more room, he said. We can spread out, he said. And so we did. We pushed back the furniture to make more room.
Making room doesn’t just happen. We have to do it on purpose.
In the end we would get over a foot of snowfall in one day, the third largest recorded in one day in central North Carolina. This snow wouldn’t leave a clean white blanket on our front lawn. Instead the photos show a mostly white scene with rusty brown leaves dotting the ground because this is an early snow for us.
In December, the trees aren’t quite finished shedding their leaves yet. So when an early snowfall comes and the wind picks up, they make room to hold the snow on branches by letting go their leaves.
Like Rahab, whose name means broad, large, a vast space of land; who betrayed her own people to assist the people of God, who made room for spies to find protection from capture, danger, and death, we, too, make room for righteousness and goodness to come take up residency within us.
Like Mary, the mother of God, who had never known a man, who had other plans for her life, who never asked for the choosing, we make room for the Holy interruption to come and weave life in unexpected ways at an unplanned time for the sake of an unknown people.
Like the trees in my front yard shedding brown leaves as snow comes too much too soon, we make room for something new even though it comes too fast, even though it might feel dangerous, even though we aren’t quite ready.
We make room.
This weekend we made room in the fridge for extra food, room in our schedule for kids to miss three days of school and for extra kids to come over and sled.
Today I make room for peace even though chaos ensues. I make room for hope even though my to do list is longer than my not-to-do list.
Maybe your next right thing for today is to consider where you might need to make some room.
Is there a room in your house you need to prepare — to take the boxes from the corner and cover the bed with fresh sheets to make space for a guest?
Is there good, important work hiding beneath the clutter on your desk, keeping you distracted from your calling?
Are there clothes in your closet that no longer fit your body or your life stage?
Are you holding on to an old dream, a former relationship, a worn-out worry that’s taking up too much space and cluttering up your heart?
Might you be willing to create space and make room for something new?
Is it time? Are you ready?
During Advent, it’s true we wait expectantly. It’s also true we’re preparing for an arrival.
What does preparation look like for you today? Might it include creating some space? Making some room? Clearing some clutter, not just the kind you can see?
O God give us eyes to see the extra things we no longer need, both the kind we can touch and the kind invisible.
Be our counselor as we discern our next right thing.
Be our priest as we confess the clutter we’ve allowed to crowd the way.
Be our midwife as we steward new birth.
Be our courage as we dare to be ruthlessly honest and relentlessly gentle with ourselves.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever.
Amen. Hallelujah.
If you want some daily help to create space for your soul during December, The Quiet Collection for Christmas is available through Tuesday December 11. For less than a dollar a day, we’ll deliver an audio devotional to your email inbox everyday until Christmas. Learn more here.
Thank you so much for this. It moved me to tears and I know it reached some deep places that I can’t even pinpoint yet but I know the Holy Spirit will reveal in His time as I continue to meditate on this. Practically speaking this has been a literal season of so much sudden change requiring me to make room by the end of the month to prepare for the shift in January but in all the busyness of the season and the added changes I hadn’t stopped to make room in my heart and clear out the clutter that can’t come into the new season. Your words have brought fresh and relevant meaning to these changes and to this Christmas season. Thank you so so much. ❤️❤️
I’m glad to hear it, Crystal. May grace continue to surprise you kindly.
Amen!
I so enjoy reading your words! I am an avid Podcast listener and will listen along with reading today, but I do love reading your written words. I often go back and listen to the portion of the Podcast that most stood out to me so I can write it in my journal and stew on it throughout the week. You have a gifting for both written and spoken words. Thankful to be a part of your journey! 🙂
I do the same thing! And agree with what you said ❤️
Beautiful. Here and at the podcast.
I continue printing off each and every edition, Emily. Needless to say, my 2″ binder is getting jam packed …
Bless you …
This word is timely. January 2nd i retire and switch gears in life. And in a couple years we move out if state. So i have lots of purging to do. Lastly, im not sure if this is an actual picture of your house or just some random house. But I feel it would make a great painting So with your permission I wouldn’t mind trying that… thank you.
I’m glad to know it’s a timely word for you! And yes – this is my house, taken by me from the street during the snowstorm the other day 🙂
I feel all over the place reading this today’s as I make room in my heart to let go of my husband as cancer is encroaching on our family this Christmas. How do you let go of love that has been next to you after fighting for a marriage with all of your might?
I do not know where to rest as I journey this new space. I will keep pushing for more space.
I feel all over the place reading this today’s as I make room in my heart to let go of my husband as cancer is encroaching on our family this Christmas.
How do you let go of love that has been next to you after fighting for a marriage with all of your might?
I do not know where to rest as I journey this new space. I will keep pushing for more Peace.
Dear Rebekah,
I cannot begin to imagine the crushing pain of this slow letting go. I thank you for sharing this small bit of your own journey here with us as you enter this dark turn you didn’t ask for and haven’t a map to navigate. (PS – look for an email from us in your inbox?) Sending love your way this morning.
This is lovely.
Oh this spoke to my heart this morning. I’m a new widow and so unsure how to move forward clearing physical and mental clutter. The to do list is long and It’s hard to let go of even his socks.
But my focus now and in the coming year is to be intentional and do the next right thing in love.
Your words encourage my heart
Just want to say thank you for written words – I do not have room in my noisy young children home to listen to podcasts, but I can sit down, tune out the noise, and read a wonderful post just about any time.
Love this Emily! And I love that youve taken the time to respond to each comment with empathy and compassion. ? Many blessings this holiday season!
This came at just the right time!!!. For the last several days I have felt the soft winds of change wooing me with anticipation and excitement, unable to see where that might be leading, yet knowing at the same time that where I am does not exactly do it for me anymore. I’m not anxious or frustrated, but quite frankly just finished – peacefully finished. Making room and letting go is a freeing experience! Thanks for your sharing!!
Thank you so much. I am making room both physically in my space and internally in my heart. Seems I have so much to sort out in both places it’s overwhelming. Holy Spirit I ask for spiritual wisdom and insight into how to move forward. What truly is my next right thing? Such a great question to ask. Thank you for your encouragement and the peace you bring.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. My life right now – with a house non-stop full of kids – is noisy and while I love listening to the podcast, and there’s something wonderful about hearing your words in your voice, it is super hard for me to find enough quiet to listen to every episode.
This felt like a cold December wind blowing through some stale places in my life. Thank you for sharing these wise, gentle words.
Thank you for doing the next right thing! I am so blessed each time you share.
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your gifts of speaking and writing with us. Once again you speak to my heart as I face a new year with many changes ahead. May God continue to bless you as you have blessed us.
This post is cleansing Emily. Looking at the beauty of the fresh, white snow and the quiet is nourishing. Allows my mind to consider something new, fresh. Doing the simple things that feed my soul.
thank you for your guidance.
Beautiful words Emily. Thank you for taking the time in your busy life to share your inspiring words. I can’t say enough good things about your podcast the words are always comforting to me. The Quiet Collection is one of my favorite things in this holiday season. I couldn’t wait to listen to it this year. It’s quite amazing. God Bless you and your family.
Just what I needed. Thanks so much Emily.
Delighted to see a good old fashioned blog post, and even one conceived on paper! I always love pictures of your home in snow. Looks even more cozy.
Thanks also for the reminder to let some things go we carried with us for too long. One comes to my mind at once, but I know it won’t be easy. That’s why I have been stuck with it for too long… Sometimes it’s not easy. Guess I need to start by shedding some leaves.
Thank you.
Delightful. Softening the heart kind of letter.
Could hear your voice as I read; always slows me to breathe and make space.
Bless your day. Thank You?
LOVE the prayer!!
(I also took a picture of the brown leaves in the snow. 🙂 We don’t see that very often and it was such a gentle reminder of the season we are in, and how seasons intersect and transition.) God bless. Happy Advent!
Thank you for your kind and wise words. It is exactly what I needed to see today as I move forward into making a decision about an opportunity that fell into my lap. I’m praying for wise counsel and guidance as I make the decision for the next right thing.
This brought a tear to my eyes. Thanks for giving such kind, gentle wisdom through your eyes and words. I even read this to my husband when he became upset from the stress of December (which partly is me being stressed). It’s been a beautiful reminder and way to see, remembering that we have choices to make.
I will let your word settle in over the months of December and January. I have done a lot of physical purging connected to making new areas of the house devoted to writing and sewing. Full time college students at home. I have handed some additional responsibilities (letting go) off to them so that I can find time to make more (space) for me.
Emily, my husband and I are pastors and directors of a faith-based residential program for men who’ve not made room for the best things in life. Many are struggling with substance abuse issues. I shared part of this including things more closely related to their struggles at our monthly awards dinner. So many have expressed their appreciation and one asked if I would share the original with him so he could share with others. I am encouraged and blessed to know that God uses your words to touch so many, beyond what any of us could imagine. Thank you for listening to his voice and his prompting.
Amen. Hallelujah.
Thank you so much <3
The Lord's peace and joy to you-
Thank you for putting this into print. I take time every December to make room and I ended a great opportunity and have a few wrapping up this week. Helping with family businesses and having a toddler means I have to be intentional about making room. Thank you for the beautiful reminder.
Emily P Freeman Thank you! Thank you for writing and thank you for your podcast. God uses your words to encourage others, support others and provide hope. Just thank you!
Once again, your words touched me and felt exactly right. We are finally putting a much needed addition on our 120 year old house, so we are literally making more room. 🙂 After the addition is done sometime in early 2019, our home will probably be like a slide puzzle for a while. We’ll move things into and out of that created space as we slowly restore and update the rest of the house, one room at a time.
I also just finished reading Courtney Carver’s book, “Soulful Simplicity” and am feeling gently, persistently called to make room in other ways…less clutter, more life…less busyness, more time for love…less hurry, more slow savoring. . Thank you for continuing to be a light for all of us as we walk this messy, beautiful path. <3
You are a treasure, Emily.
One of my favorite lines of all the Christmas hymns is this: Let every heart PREPARE HIM ROOM. When I sing those words, I often think about the animals in the stable on the night of Jesus’ birth. Which is kind of weird, probably. But I think about how those animals would have been hurriedly led away from the feeding troughs to make room for their overnight guests. “Prepare him room.”
Thanks for all you do, for keeping the main thing … the main thing … the next right thing. Merry Christmas, dear heart.