Created to Cultivate: The Joy of Homesteading

I recently stumbled upon a clip from a debate Adam Carolla participated in with The Free Press (“Does the West Need a Religious Revival?”). To my surprise, he shared a thought that struck me deeply. He suggested that the rise in despair may be connected to how far modern life has removed us from our God-given design, replacing physical work and time in nature with cubicles, screens, and artificial environments. And how this physical problem often becomes a spiritual problem.

I haven’t researched the claims, but common sense and personal experience tell me there’s something to it. Over the past year, I’ve felt an almost consuming desire to work more with my hands—gardening, crafting, creating art, homemaking. Stepping away from the digital world and immersing myself in the tangible one has brought renewed peace and purpose.

I used to feel a little silly pouring so much effort into beautifying our home, especially during the holidays. Was it vanity? Yet the joy it brought to us and to others told a different story. I’m not motivated to impress; I’m motivated to bless—to create a warm, cozy refuge where people can exhale the weight of life for a moment. The same is true of my garden. I dream of these places being a space where others can pause, breathe, and simply be.

This weekend, while running errands, my husband seemed to be in a hurry to get back. When I asked him why, he finally laughed and said, “Well, that’s what you get for making our home so wonderful that I never want to leave!” As a wife, that felt like mission accomplished.

Reflecting on Carolla’s words, I realized why these things have meant so much to me. Gardening, decorating, creating… It’s all a form of homesteading—something intrinsic to the human spirit. It has grounded me, improved my mental health, and given me goals, accomplishments, and joy.

And I’ve stopped feeling guilty when my husband puts effort into our home as well. We were all created to build, create, and find joy in the work of our hands.

I’m learning to fully embrace this desire God has placed within me. Homesteading is simply stewardship—caring for what God has entrusted to us. Adam and Eve’s first assignment was to cultivate the garden. It wasn’t a burden; it was a gift. Ask any aging man or woman who continues tending their home long after others think they shouldn’t. For them, it’s not just a matter of necessity; it’s living. So live… Dream, Build, Create—Cultivate.