Elbows Up: Standing Strong for Canadian-made Furniture and Christ.

Maple coffee table

Canadians are known for being polite — we apologize when someone else bumps into us, we hold doors open even when the person is still half a rink away, and we say “sorry” at least ten times a day. But when it comes to supporting what matters, Canadians know how to go “elbows up.”

Take Canadian-made furniture, for example. When you buy local, handcrafted pieces built from our own maple, oak, or walnut, you’re not just bringing home a dining table or a bedframe — you’re investing in families, communities, and a tradition of quality. “Elbows up” here means choosing solid wood over shortcuts, craftsmanship over quick imports, and values over convenience. It’s holding your ground for something that lasts.

Rockwood Dining table

Christians, too, are called to live “elbows up.” But instead of a lineup at the furniture store, we’re in a much greater struggle — one of faith. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:16, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Elbows up, shield raised — that’s the posture of a believer standing firm against doubt, fear, and the pressures of a world that often values the temporary over the eternal.

When we hold the shield of faith high, we’re not being rude or pushy. We’re showing courage, protecting our hearts, and guarding the truth we’ve been entrusted with. Just like Canadian-made furniture is built to endure, faith rooted in Christ stands strong through storms, generations, and eternity.

As Paul also reminds us in 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” That’s the true picture of “elbows up” living.

So whether you’re choosing Canadian-made furniture or choosing faith, let’s be the kind of people who aren’t afraid to square our shoulders and lift our elbows. Canadians can proudly say, “We’ll support what’s made here at home.” And Christians can boldly say, “We’ll stand with Christ, shield of faith in hand.”

Elbows up, Canada. Elbows up, Christians. Support what’s built to last — in your home, and in your heart.

~Proud to be a Canadian Christian,

Katherine