Our home repairs have lead to an unfortunate discovery this week. Our foundation was compromised. Decades of rot under the fireplace, likely due to poor construction, had lead to a sagging floor, mold, and broken tile.

This all started because hubby had removed the chimney leading to the fireplace to get rid of the cold down draft in the winter. The plan was to put in a direct vent gas fireplace so the chimney wouldn’t be needed. On one hand, it was good to find this now. On the other hand, ignorance is bliss.

^24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25 MSG).

Rot to our foundation can be slow and unnoticeable at first. We pray less often, read scripture less often, worship less often. Let’s face it, there are constant reminders to take care of your health, exercise, and eat real food. We are even starting to see important reminders to care for emotional wellbeing, but what about our spiritual wellbeing? What is reminding us to pray and worship?

When my life is extra busy, I want to cut back on my commitments to church. Maybe I should be cutting back in other places. Maybe I should be doing more for my spiritual wellbeing when life is overwhelming. Maybe I should be shoring up my foundation.

How is your foundation? Do you have strong habits in place to weather a storm? Will you be blown over in high winds? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.