September 16, 2010
-
On Contentment.... Last weekend our family went with DH to Tenn. for a Gospel Sing with the group DH plays bass for. We stayed in a little lake house (nothing fancy, but very nice and spacious) The bathrooms were BIG, big enough to change clothes in, fix your hair, and whatever else you wanted to do! The kitchen was big enough to move around in and pleasantly put a meal together (which I did, breakfast Sun. morn.)
So on the way home, we were all talking about wishing we had a bigger bathroom...when DH suddenly gets defensive and spouts off something about maybe in my next life...well that made me MAD! Not wanting to get him any more riled up, me and DD's just hushed for a bit. Then when it came around again later, I tried to explain that its not for the sake of just wanting bigger and better things, but for the sake of trying to run a household with a big family, that some things "work" better, like more space in bathrooms, laundry rooms, ect.
He then says what he has said many times before"I'm just thankful for a place to live" well I am too GRRRRR, that statement always gets me, because I'm thinking while I'm thankful for that, can we not reason out the fact that we do need to make improvements, is that so wrong? Is it wrong then to plan to change some things for the better? Does it mean we're discontent ?
I then came home from the weekend, and went to cleaning my bathroom like a mad woman! I figured that I do need to be faithful in the least! Conclusion..I'm alot happier with my small but clean bathroom now! It does make a difference when we take care of our things. And I had enough of some of my kitchen drawers, so I reorganized them, so I can enjoy cooking more because I can find my stuff!
Also, close to that scripture I gave before about godliness with contentment being great gain, well it also says how we brought nothing in this world and we will not take anything with us. Not that I want to take a big bathroom with me, but It did help put things in prospective for me....that we are just here for a LITTLE while, we don't need to be so focused on early things! A few weeks ago our pastor said to the congregation, how we ARE in love with things in this world. We want to say NO WE ARE NOT! but step back and look at where we go, what we buy, what we do all the time...something to think about.
This has been quite a ramble, but I would like your comments again on this!!!! ~JILL~
Comments (6)
I think that recognizing and being thankful for what you do have but still wanting to improve it is a good thing. It shows ambition. It's just when a person gets to bemoaning their circumstances that it can be discontent. Actively working to make something better, that's good.
Whenever my dad says something like "well at least I'm thankful for what I have", it generally means that he feels like we're blaming him - we're not, but he sees it that way, because he sees himself as our provider - and if we're not happy, he feels like he should be doing a better job at providing for us. Just a thought.
I agree with Madison. Jimmy may snap when I talk about resizing b/c reality hits him that he cant make as much money as he wishes for our family, which makes him feel he isnt the provider as well. I have found there is a GOOD time to talk about that, then theres a BAD time! lol Hubby got frustrated this weekend working in his "trailer" ( our old one sits in the back yard for storage until we can tear it down ). He has tried and tried to organize, he NEEDS a building. Well... it reminded him he cant... b/c we also NEED a roof, we need plumbing done, and MUCH MORE.....and then he got overwhelmed and frustrated.
I also agree there is nothing wrong with "wanting more." Its when it consumes us to where we live beyond our means is whats wrong.
We as homemakers KNOW what it takes to run a house. Most men dont, so to be honest, they need our insight.
We can ALWAYS wish for more, as long as we are content with what we have and KNOW we are OK if those wishes dont come true.
And I think we ALL have this same battle!
@victoriantomboy - @herdaddysgirl - yal I think you are both right, I think the men do take it personal sometimes, like we think they're not providing enough...I should learn to be more sensitive to how he may be feeling at the time. Madison, what you said about having ambition..thanks, that helps put it into words for me! thanks to both of you for commenting!!!
I can relate! If you can afford to make your home a bit bigger and better, I reccomend it, not so that you can brag to people about your nice place, but so that you will enjoy the space and be healthier! Our old kitchen was a disaster; tiny, with a couple of places where a fire had started, then stopped(in the walls). There was mold and varmint droppings. NOT healthy. God provided, we added on a new kitchen and the first ever dining area. Our next project, hopefully soon, will be the bathrooms. They are both teeny and moldy. We're just going to gut and rebuild the "main one". We MIGHT expand the teeny master one, but lose a little closet if we do that. All this, so that we can be healthier. For 9 years, I raised our 3 kids in our little 1000 square foot 50 year old house. When firstborn left at 18 (college), I felt like 5 people moved out! Anyway, do be grateful for what you have, keep it clean and organised and pretty, and you'll be happier. Then maybe the Lord will provide the means to go bigger if that's what your family needs.
Ditto to everything already stated. I can soo relate to this post. I really can. I'm going through a similar thing here. I have quit talking about it and just started praying. I'm waiting on Him to answer.
Like Richgem, I am raising my 3 kids in a 1000 sq ft house and I have days when I am so discouraged, I can barely get out of bed. My boys are linebacker-sized and well, we're a BIG family. (weight-wise) It's very disheartening when I look around and realize we have literally no room.
@Richgem - @SealedbyGrace - thanks ladies, I really appriciate your comments, it is eyeopening
Comments are closed.