Well, here's a struggle...contentment. On a blog I visited recently, the dear mother said she and her children DO NOT COMPLAIN (ouch!). And on another blog, the dear mother posted an absolutely BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN that every mother of many children ought to have :). And yet another blog posted a delightful view into her equally DELIGHTFUL PANTRY that seems quite suitable for every homeschool mother who is required/chooses to cook for her family with regularity.
So how does this affect me? Honestly, I find myself digging deep to focus on being content with what I DO have...to focus on the many blessings that we enjoy daily...to focus on the hidden beauty of simplicity (hidden~get it?)...to remember that we are on a journey of growing in Jesus, and perhaps our roots need strengthening, or perhaps our fruit just isn't ripening at the same speed as others.
No excuses here, because I truly do want to be admonished and encouraged and I truly know that we have fallen woefully short in many areas, but it is so dangerous to compare ourselves to others, and it is such a mistake to look at what others have and become discontent with what we have. Truth is, my husband works so very hard to provide, and how discouraging to him if I have a spirit of discontentment regarding our home and the condition of it! And what about the children? It is so important to cultivate a thankful heart so that they likewise, learn to be content not only in these years with us, but also to prepare them for their future spouse.
"Better a handful with quietness than both hands full..." Eccl. 4:6
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"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5
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So here's to quiet contentment, and trusting the Lord for all our needs, both with our physical needs, and the needs of raising and training our children. Take care while you read other blogs, too, for we can easily get discouraged with our perception of other women's lives!!
Love, Kathy
27 comments:
Beautifully said! :)
Kathy,
Honestly I hesitated to post about my kitchen because I really didn't want to make anyone feel badly. I'm sorry.
For quite a while I felt *guilty* for getting to do our kitchen addition and had to be reminded that it is ok to be content with "much" as well as with "little." Silly, I know.
Now I'm just really happy with the extra space, but striving to hold it all with an open hand, knowing that most likely we will be moving in the next few years when Tom retires from being a policeman and I probably won't have anything quite like this kitchen again.
So I desire to use it joyfully while we are here, both for our family and for lots of hospitality, grateful for what we have, but willing to embrace whatever the Lord has for us in the future as well.
Perhaps I shouldn't have posted about our kitchen. Please forgive me if I caused you any discontent. It definitely wasn't my intention.
Thank you once again for being so real. I do the exact same thing. (mine is more seeing their sewing "rooms" [not corner of the bedroom]and beautifully organized stacks of fabric) So once again the Lord has used you! I found myself snapping at one of my children tonight, and realized it wasn't anything that they had really done, it was just momma dealing not so well with that spirit of discontentment. You couldn't have posted this at a better time!
That's so true, Mrs. Regan. Comparing doesn't do much good usually. By the way... none of those things are true for our family, either!
~Marissa
Susan,
No worries about your kitchen causing discontent! It is absolutely beautiful, and when I dream, I dream big!! It seems the Lord uses situations to show me a bit clearer vision of my heart...no reflection on you at all. I do hope someday to have a kitchen that is more "family-friendly" :)! So thankful that you are enjoying it now!
Gulp~ That's me to a tee!!! Were you peeking in my kitchen window and spying on me? :-) Next time knock on the door then you can come in and see my dirty floors and walls :-) I'll have a nice cup of hot tea waiting for you dear friend~
Weren't Susan's (Joyful Mom of Many) "brownies" delicious?
~Cinnamon
Oh my dearest friend,
Being discontent is like a weed that takes root in our hearts and it is so hard to get rid of it.
This was beautifully expressed...thank you for sharing :)
Blessings,
Maria
Thank you so much for posting this! I needed to read it today and I needed it said as you said it. Thank you!!!
~heidi
It is so strange isn't it. For now God has seen fit to put our family on a sweet farm with a sweet farmhouse...all I could ever want, and yet I have the gall to want more. He knew when he placed me here that I was going to have to get creative with a place to sew. I'm not on a postage stamp in the middle of Atlanta, yet I still complain? (and by the way, even on that postage stamp he put me in a huge old house...) Oh, my. Lots to repent for tonight! Thanks Again!
Dear Kathy!
Excellent post on contentment. If I may add one thing...many of us in the blogging community don't air our "dirty laundry", so what might SEEM to be the perfect children, perfect house, perfect marriage, etc. are not. Cause there isn't any that ARE perfect. That being said, we must be content with what we have and not lust after what others might have. Easier said than done when it comes to someone's gorgeous garden, kitchen, skills,...!
You are right about not telling all, Farmgirl Cyn. Another good by-product when we remember that truth? Living in grace with one another...blessing and encouraging one another. This post has been so good for me.
Kathy, I really enjoyed reading this post. We just severed our ties with our family in Houston, Texas a year ago and moved to Idaho where we knew no one. We had no job and literally started over. We don't own a house. My husband is in car sales and is solely comission which isn't going so well. I want land, a garden, chickens and a place we can call our own. I feel discontent a lot and have to pray about it. It's nice to know that others out there feel the same way sometimes. I realize I have to be thankful for what God has blessed me with and I am but it is still tough sometimes.
Thank you, and what timing. My husband just returned from Jerusalem with a new perspective and we just had a similar conversation. Thank God for his grace.
I echo and ditto every sentiment. Well told.
Lydia here:
Oh, how true! Your comments and scriptures are right on. We are all in process and when we compare, notice how we see the good only. We are all learning and all have room to improve. As for wanting more, you said it rightly that God knows our needs and where we are in the process. He is so good and He gives, as He sees fit, and our job?? Thank Him daily, for his goodness that none of us deserve!:) His ways are above our ways! What an incredible blessing to know that He designs our lives based on His unending love, grace and mercy. We do have so much to be thankful for. His saving grace alone should be enough. We all struggle with various things and His patience and grace STILL are there to lead us gently.
Love you sister. Thank you again and again for sharing so honestly and reminding us all of how we should walk!
May God Bless your day in Him,
Lydia
Wonderful post -- and it really hits home. :)
Kathy ~ I feel like I am sitting on your couch with a cup of tea catching up :) as a homeschool mom, wife, christian -- we strive for the best...however we often forget it takes diligent little steps of faith :) Did you see my post on the cover picture? (Jan -a picture is worth 1000 words) It will make you feel better and give you a giggle too!
Thanks as always for being transparent~ Love ya!
Sweet Kathy, I enjoyed myself so. Thank you for the encouragement that you wrote in your post. I also felt like I had just walked into your farm house and never wanted to leave. All the comments that have been left are so precious also. We are all women, just finding our way on this earth that is so not perfect. I am so thankful for Jesus.
I enjoyed all your pictures. I miss having young children of my own in my everyday life. Those were the days. I am thankful for my 15 and 18 year old that I homeschool and I do enjoy my 9 grandchildren. Absolutely loved your header pic. It made my heart smile. I needed that, I will bury my Daddy tomorrow.
One thing I like about blogging, is so many wonderful pictures of others beauty! You have so many....I enjoyed.
I will be back and now I am a follower.
Blessings, Linda
as the song by natalie grant says: "there's no such thing as perfect people,
there's no such thing as a perfect life...
come as you are,
broken and scarred,
lift up your heart,
and BE CHANGED
BY A PERFECT GOD.
amen??
amen.
kathy - to be totally honest, i often struggle with envy because of you blessed mothers who are still "in the midst of the raising" of your children. i can remember when mine were small wondering if "I" would ever have any time for myself - ever have a moment to think straight and then BOOM! it's gone. that quick. but, the bottom line is what you pointed out - to be CONTENT in where He has you NOW - each day to find the joy that is hidden there - i struggle with it, too.
thank you for being so transparent.
love
debylynne
Kathy,
Thank you for this post. I never really thought about how insulting it is to my husband who works so hard for our family that I'm not content with my new home and my new life here in California. Thank you for the eye opener - I need to repent and turn away from my discontentment!
Blessings,
Michelle
Dear Kathy,
As always you have a beautiful way of saying things.
Often I think it is not until we start to write/talk and think out our thoughts that we can really feel where we are and be content with the situation we have.
I know I often struggle with our lives as we constatnly want our family to be reunited.
I need reminders to help me stay in touch with where God has called us at the moment.
Thank you for sharing your struggles and hopes.
God Bless
Oh so true. The Bible teaches us it is unwise to compare ourselves. Sometimes all the plates are spinning and it looks wonderful Yet~at times we all have days where it all comes crashing down. May I tell you ~you are doing a wonderful job ~friend. Homeschooling is such a huge job. You just know that we all have our days. Your world looks just beautiful to me!
I said a prayer for your homeschool day today.
Thoughts & Prayers~
Carrie
What a wonderful post. We have a small kitchen, and I've dealt with this too. When I find discontent creeping in, I try to remember the fact that both of my grandmother's raised large families with none of the modern conveniences I have. How they'd have loved a dishwasher, or a refrigerator for that matter. My husband has worked hard for years so that I can be home with our kids, and I'm so thankful for that. Thanks for this wonderful reminder.
Blessings,
Marcia
"People are never free of trying to be content."
Always seeking, searching for that thing that will make me happy.
Thank you for your honesty, Mrs. Regan. I struggle with contentment too (though obviously not with the state of my kitchen)... =)
AMEN!!!
Ahh, contentment...a constant struggle for anyone living today! Thanks for the reminder. I am learning to be content and thankful for what we have, knowing there are seasons for big kitchens and small kitchens! I am thankful for the food we cook in the kitchen, the stove, the oven, the fridge, etc.!! And who doesn't love to dream and plan?
I am planning on coming back for a visit! Thanks!
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