My sister in law, Renee, wrote this comment on another blog recently:"The more I read post like this the more I want to give, to live a simpler life, I pray that I could give more and trusting that God will provide only what we need and trying to figure out what are my "wants" and my real "needs" there is a difference between them."
I keep needing to figure that out, too. Living in this small house, I think about this often. Not all the time, but sometimes...
Sometimes... when I get soaked, showering Katherine, because the bathroom is too small to have a tub. Or when we get groceries, and there isn't enough room in the kitchen to put everything away, and I have to keep the cereal in the coat closet. Or when I drive 46 minutes (one way) to do my laundry, because we don't have the room for a washer.
Don't feel sorry for me... I don't! To be honest, I enjoy the things I listed; going to mom's to "do my laundry" (aka visit), having so many groceries the kitchen can't contain them (can you say 'good provider?' I love that man!), and showering a baby that actually pants in eagerness when I mention a shower (love her, too.)
Oh, I'm getting off topic. I meant to say:
When I think about the woman who used to live in this house, I realize how easy I have it! She raised three children in here in the days when this house was still a woodshed, without even things I consider basics, like sinks, and a kitchen.
If I think on, I remember Gladys, my 95-year-old neighbour lady. Born in 1915, she lived through wars, lean days on the farm, miscarriages, and isolation; she grew her family's food, planted an orchard, raised 6 kids, and went to work in town when money was tight. When Katherine and I walk up to see her, she always has something positive to say. She still lives in the old farmhouse; you could say that it's bigger than my house, but she can't use the upstairs; because the stairs are bad for her heart condition.
And here I sit, thinking, "I need more space for my cereal." As Michelle used to say, "Suck it up, Buttercup."
Great post Dinah, Haha for Michelle line!!
ReplyDeleteThis theme have been on my mind, my grand parent house was the same size of our house (minus the porch and pizza shop side, so a bit smaller) raise 12 children in 3 bedrooms, with no electricity for the longest time (they live far away from the city) they never had extra but never lack of anything.
I know that their generation grew up wanting more, big house, big car, big salary, but with this increase of material baggage came more responsibilities, more hours at work more time spend away from family etc... Are they more happy, nope perhaps richer regarding money but money does not buy happiness.
I think looking for comfort and satisfaction in material thing is like chasing wind, stuff will brake down and need to be replace.
Not saying we should all live in shack made of steel or be living like homeless people, but being thankful for what be got and Remembering that those blessing comes from the Lord, must be done daily.
We have so much more then many if we have running water, roof, food to eat and clothes to wear, indeed we are rich if we only had that, no furniture and all, something to think about!
Sorry about my rambling, still trying to figure thing out!
:)
ReplyDeleteSuch nice things you quote me as saying... :-)
ReplyDeleteSo true though, we often don't realize how much we have and could practice little more thankfulness, and striving to use all to God's glory.
Sounds like the little neighborhood of houses on Lewis Mountain are carrying on the tradition of being populated by strong and phenomenal women.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I came across your post today. I feel God had been calling our family to practice the art of simplicity. (Less clutter and stuff to bog us down=more time to spend with him, doing his work.) Michelle hit it right on the head, with her statement. We have a small house as well, and have had to be very creative in placement of food storage, blanket storage and even shoe/boot storage. (Boy, do mens' workboots take up a lot of space.) Too often I forget to be thankfull for what I have. (Both of my grandparents never even had an opportunity to even own a home at all._
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