This Old House

Dear Kids,

Hebrews 13:5b. “…Be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I love living in an old farmhouse. The house was built in the mid 1800’s and holds many quaint nuances. When in a pensive mood I imagine who may have lived here before me and wonder what kind of life they lived. I delight in the decorative oak staircase in the front hall and the uniqueness of the original fireplaces. There are other things about living in an old house that are not so great. Many times I have wanted to pull out my hair when dealing with lack of closet space, freezing pipes caused by insufficient insulation, and unsatisfactory heat in the upstairs bedrooms. The difficulties of living in this old house have taxed my perfectionist personality.

It is easy to want everything to “be right.” Unfortunately this desire can cause us to forget our own blessings and covet what others have. “If I only had that house, that car, or that technology, then I would be happy,” we say to ourselves. These kinds of thoughts breed an attitude of discontentment spurring us on to grasp after more and more.  The funny thing is the more we get, the more we want.  After painting the walls of the living room,  I noticed how shabby the curtains were. After getting new curtains, the furniture looked worn out. We continue to search for perfection and are never content.

This desire for perfection is actually not a desire after things. It is a heart longing for a person. The only One who can fill this desire is God. When we allow God to fill our heart with His love, we will feel the assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us. All our other desires fade into the background, and we can finally be content and thankful for the material things we have.

So what about this old house? I am thankful for a wonderful place to live and raise my family even with all its quirks.  If my best friend, Jesus, is here with me, then this is where I want to be.

Love,

Mama