Jenny Marrs Encourages ‘Grace’ This Christmas Season
By Movieguide® Contributor
FIXER TO FABULOUS star Jenny Marrs explains why she prayerfully included personal family stories in her new book “House + Home = Love” and reflects on what’s important during the Christmas season.
“In my book, House + Love = Home, I begin each chapter with a story about our own family and our own home,” she wrote. “I really prayed over which stories to share because I knew all along that this book was intended to be more than just a pretty book filled with pretty photos.”
She explained that she wrote it for her kids, hoping one day, it would recall wonderful memories of their childhood.
“In the living room chapter, I share about our Christmas traditions,” she continued. “As we walk closer toward Christmas Day, and my to-do list feels exceedingly long and unchecked, there’s a door open where that old friend guilt can easily be ushered in. I found that reading my own words this morning helped to reset my heart.”
Marrs left her followers with a piece of advice in the midst of a busy Christmastime.
She wrote, “’No matter how vigilant I am about keeping white space on our calendar in this season, it’s inevitable that we go, go, go in the weeks leading up to Christmas.’ And? This morning, I’m realizing it’s all grace.”
“We can give ourselves grace in the frenzy even as our hearts long for still and slow,” Marrs wrote. “Because, when Christmas morning comes around, after the kids dash down the stairs, I’ll do what I have done every year since they were born: ‘After all the gifts are unwrapped and everyone is contentedly playing with their new toys, Dave and I find our way back to the spot where we started: sipping coffee in front of the fire.'”
“‘Hours after we sat here at daybreak, I look around again and soak in the scene: The living room floor is now covered in discarded wrapping paper and ripped-open boxes are strewn about. The fire burns low and laughter and excited chatter fill the air. Eventually, we’ll all pitch in to collect the trash, and toys and clothes will be put away. But, for now, I ignore the mess, turn up the festive music, and whisper a silent prayer of gratitude,’” she continued. “Grace, friends. Soak in it this morning. Let yourself get done what you can and let go of the rest. It will all be okay. Our kids will only remember the joy.”
Along with giving themselves grace, Marrs encourages her followers to “shed our masks” this Christmas.
“May our conversations and our interactions be honest rather than easy,” she wrote. “May we quiet the noise and ask who needs our attention and may we sincerely listen to the still, small voice when prompted to seek out the hurting and the lonely.”
Throughout the busy Christmas season, the Marrs family keeps Christ at the center.
“This is our time to just pause and recognize and celebrate the birth of Jesus, and to us – it’s just that in the craziness of our current life – this is a time where we actually have some downtime for a minute,” Marrs explained. “So, it’s time to just slow down and be together, focus on family traditions and just spend time together.”
Movieguide® recently reported on Marrs’ new book:
Co-Host of the hit HGTV show FIXER TO FABULOUS, Jenny Marrs, announced that her new book ‘House + Love = Home’ plans to debut in stores in November.
Marrs posted on her Instagram her book cover and wrote, “After my House + Love = Home manuscript was turned in and I had finished all of my edits, I was told my book was headed off to the printer. I celebrated and my breath caught in my throat as I wrapped my mind around the fact that I really did it: I wrote a book.”
“My book is currently in the process of being printed and will be on shelves this November,” she added. “That sentence still startles me to type. It’s absolutely surreal. Since before I typed the first word, I have prayed that this book does some good out there in this great, big world. I pray it shines a little light into the darkness. I pray it inspires someone to create a home full of intention. I pray it gives someone permission to stop looking around at what everyone else is doing and start loving well within their four walls.”
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