Introspections
Blessed
Insurance
TURNING A HOUSE INTO A HOME
By F E L I C I A F E R G U S O N
urchasing a house is an exciting time. Hopes and dreams intermingle with the practicalities of hiring moving companies and changing schools. Within those four walls are a blank canvas and a fresh start that belongs solely to the new owners (well, and maybe the mortgage company). They can’t wait to make it their own in more ways than signatures on a deed. But once the boxes are unpacked, walls are painted, and accessories are in place, there is still one thing that can be done to turn a house into a home.
“house,” an inviting, safe place where a family resides might come to mind. According to Young’s Bible Dictionary, a “blessing” is a request for divine favor or gifts from God or man. House blessings, then, request goodwill for the home and family. They are an active practice of entrusting it and the owners to the protection of a higher authority. Think of it as an extra line item on an insurance policy—but you don’t call Allstate for this coverage.
It is a house blessing.
Objects of blessing are the most prominent type. Displays of framed or stenciled Bible verses are popular in Christian homes—especially those for whom farmhouse chic is more than a passing nod. One of the most famous verses is Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It not
House blessings may not be discussed as part of the home construction or sales paperwork, but they are practices rooted in centuries of tradition across many faiths and cultures. When one thinks of the word 142 | O C T OBER 2019
House blessings may be an object, an activity, or both. They may also be more than a one-time event.
