Ways to Settle into Nesting Naturally

“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.” Psalm 84:3

Birds aren’t the only ones with built-in nesting instincts. Humans have them too—natural “God-given” desires to establish a place to call home. It’s one of the most natural things we can settle into.

Nesting Comes Naturally.

My heart yearned at a young age for a house to call my own. I dreamed of making a home until it became reality. Today, I dream of ways to make it more homey.

I’ve come a long way from our first apartment with microwave boxes draped in embroidered pillowcases for night stands. Now, we own a house with real furniture. It is an unfinished, work-in-progress with a projects list a mile long. But, it’s home-sweet-home to us.

Our home feels natural to us. We plan our dream-filled lives here. We put our feet up, pillow our heads, pick silly fights, play with the dog, read, study, watch movies, listen to music, collect, de-clutter, clean, fix, putter and entertain.  We relax on the couch, chill on the porch, converse or sit in silence. Even in its unfinished condition, our home provides the security and solace needed to nurture our physical and spiritual growth.

Nesting is a Natural Part of Life.

Nesting is a part of everyone’s lives. It’s what makes us watch DIY videos on YouTube and run to Home Depot or Hobby Lobby every other day. It doesn’t matter if we build, buy or rent. We’re naturally driven to find a place to live.

Choosing that place doesn’t happen overnight. It can be fun and frustrating. It takes time, research and financial resources to secure a residence. It takes a lifetime of learning, laboring and living to make it home.

It’s amazing how we continue to build and maintain our nests when we’re stressed, broke and exhausted. Countless hours are spent investing effort and energy to acquire resources for making our homes cozy and cared for. Despite the dirt, dust, duties, disarray and dysfunction, we settle in naturally to:

• Retreat and Relax
• Repair and Restore
• Rejuvenate and Revive

As familiar as this is, it’s more enjoyable when we follow the natural progression of God’s homemaking process. It’s when we fight against nature, overbuild, overcommit and over obligate ourselves that we lose grasp of the sweet tranquility homes provide.

The Creator shows us ways to build and manage our homes in Creation. Observe how birds build their nests and you’ll see how they follow their God-given instincts in ten ways. Watch them:

1. Find a safe place.
2. Stay focused.
3. Tag-team.
4. Design a sturdy structure.
5. Get after it.
6. Keep a healthy schedule (eat, build, bathe, rest and repeat).
7. Work according to the seasons.
8. Build only what is needed.
9. Resist getting too attached to their nest.
10. Relocate & Rebuild when necessary.

If we settled into our nesting as simply, seasonally and systematically as birds do, we might be a lot healthier and happier in our homemaking. God gave us the natural sense and skills to build our nests. How we use those instincts is up to us.

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Bring It Home

If you’re feeling unsettled in your nest, what can you do today to feel more at home?

Praying for you as we grow together,

From My Heart & Home,
Smiles, BRC