Our Red Walls

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Newlyweds. Our little tudor house in south Minneapolis waiting to be filled. “Let’s paint the dining room red!” It seemed to be a color of love and warmth and invitation. A promise of dinners shared just the two of us. Lively conversations with friends lingering over a shared meal.

Those red walls held so much tenderness of the first years of marriage. Nothing seemed to much for those walls. It’s richness and depth could handle it all. Laughter. Tears. Imperfection.

Those red walls said we are committed to each other. To community. To living out our callings. We will love here. We will encourage here. Inviting others in the messy beauty of relationship. Red doesn’t mind the chaos of it all.

Thirteen years. Four houses we’ve owned. And a few more rented. And red has made its appearance in all. From Seattle to Pennsylvania our love, our beginnings have made their mark. Red our secret thread connecting them all. Steadiness in change.

I type right now, surrounded by red. Deep red. Red that is bold and comforting and not afraid. Red that is waiting for new stories to unfold in this new house. Anticipating new friendships to blossom. The promise of tried and true love to be nurtured.

A color, a choice, made years ago. It still beckons. It reminds us of dreams. Tonight we sit and look out at the future together, our red room ready for it all.

 

{picture of our current red room!}

I’m joining Lisa Jo’s Five Minute Friday community.

The plan is to write for five minutes, no major editing, on a word, a prompt that Lisa Jo provides. This week’s word is Red.

Read here to see all the places a word can lead.

 

Comments

  1. ACK! Okay, LOVE that God blessed us as being neighbors over at Lisa-Jo’s today. (and I wish you were still in Minneapolis so I could give you a hug in person!)
    I so adore your red walls! (my kitchen is red)
    But mostly, I’m captivated by the love shared within them. I feel right at home…
    Hugs to you, Melanie!

  2. I could envision those “Lively conversations with friends lingering over a shared meal” right there with you. Love the picture you painted. Red is a very welcoming color and I love that it has traveled with you. Thanks for sharing at FMF 🙂

  3. Dawn St Amand Paoletta says

    Bold and beautiful- with a great message- to live out your love. That’s a lot of moving, and a lot of love. Beautiful sharing!

  4. thanks for sharing! I hope you have a great weekend!

    visiting from FMF.

    Have a beautiful weekend!

    Jessica

    http://mybeautifulli.blogspot.com/2013/09/five-minute-friday-red.html

  5. Dolly@Soulstops says

    Melanie,
    Gorgeous photo and the love you’ve written about …in your red room…beautiful 🙂 Happy Friday…how’s the puppy?

  6. Joyce Wagner says

    Like The Comparison Of Life To Color. My Favorite Color Has Always Been Red. You gave Me Something Calming To Ponder Today With A Thankful Heart. Thanks

  7. Jessica Hoover says

    Hi friend, haven’t seen you in awhile and I’m glad I stopped by. I love that red is a bit of a legacy in your life. That it has marked the making of a home and life with your family. I am a fan of red walls and I hope that someday soon I’ll have my own walls to paint red.

  8. I love how red has appeared in all of your homes! The steadiness of change- so beautiful!

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