HGTV Star ‘Can’t Help But Marvel’ at God’s Plan — We Should Too
By Movieguide® Contributor
HGTV star Jenny Marrs is marveling at “the way God works in ALL things” as she looks back on an important time in her family’s life.
“Twelve years ago, we worked in the white space of our days to create a little storefront where we sold vintage finds, furniture Dave made and chalkboards that Dave built and I painted,” she wrote in a recent Instagram post. “We did all of this to raise funds for our adoption and subsequent nonprofit that we named ‘Feed Their Tummies’ where we fed the kiddos at Sylvie’s orphanage as well as two other orphanages in Kinshasa, DRC. We named the shop ‘Bayt Boutique’ because we had started our adoption in Ethiopia and Bayt means ‘home’ in Amharic.”
Marrs called the store “a labor of love and a way to physically pour my energy into something while we waited desperately for our girl.”
“While I worked and painted (and painted and painted), I prayed (and prayed and prayed). It was also a beautiful way for our community to come alongside us and support us tangibly,” she continued. “I remember the joy and laughter in this space so vividly. I’ll never forget the way friends and friends of friends would show up when we opened the doors — in a very hard season, the days inside this building did my heart so much good.”
Fast forward twelve years, and Marrs is “currently studying the book of Jeremiah.”
“Just yesterday, I jotted in the margin of chapter 13, ‘God gives just one step at a time…not the whole picture…’ and, then, this morning, Timehop reminded me of Bayt Boutique,” she wrote. “It was one step a long time ago. I didn’t see the big picture then. I didn’t see that we would have a space again to welcome people in for handmade items for their home. Marrs Mercantile wasn’t on my radar and yet it’s become a gift in this season of busyness. It’s a place to channel creativity in a unique way and a place to share the work of many other small businesses and creators in our community.”
Marrs concluded, “Well, that was a long-winded way to say, I can’t help but marvel at the way God works in ALL things.”
Marrs often shares messages of faith with her Instagram followers.
In one recent post, she shared “the importance of remembering the sacredness of all things and in all people.”
“Within each and every one of us is a great capacity to love,” Marrs wrote. “Yet, love isn’t a passive emotion or one that even comes naturally in all circumstances. We have to do the hard work of putting our ability to love into action…We have to choose compassion. We have to choose unity…We have to choose kindness and encouragement and doing the right thing without fanfare or applause. We have to choose love.”
Movieguide® previously reported on another post from Marrs that shared an answered prayer:
In a chaotic and busy world, it can be hard to find time to rest. But HGTV star Jenny Marrs is sharing how she took time to slow down and refocus her priorities.
“When I looked at this week’s schedule, I was overwhelmed and, instead of worrying over how I’ll get it all done, I have prayed each morning for God to give me strength for what needs to be done, discernment over what can wait for another day, and, most important, to see glimpses of His love even in the craziness of my schedule,” Marrs wrote on Instagram.
“Today, right smack in the middle of a frenzied day of filming and checking in on renovations, I had to pop over to our neighbor’s barn to pick up something Dave needed to finish a project,” she continued. “I stopped by the house and asked if anyone wanted to run over with me and Char and Luke jumped at the chance to visit Mr. Tommy and his animals (especially the new baby donkey!). And just like that, time slowed for a few minutes and we made a sweet memory together. An answered prayer, indeed.”
Marrs and her husband Dave are currently working on the sixth season of their popular show FIXER TO FABULOUS.
She recently shared her main design tip in an interview with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette — “Keep it simple.”
“We live in a society of trying to create content all the time, but you have to shut that down and actually just live your life and make it cozy and enjoyable,” Marrs continued. “If it’s not bringing you peace to have your house full of seasonal decor, don’t do it. That’s our mantra.”
