Perspective. It's not something we keep sight of sometimes. Life gets in the way and we lose that perspective that is SO important. In my opinion, one important step of simplifying is gaining perspective and clarity.
As I unpack from our move YET again, I get overwhelmed and caught up in all that comes with a new place and putting it together to build our home. Sure, it is important for me to build our home but what is more important is what I use to build that home and the perspective that I have. There's so much that I want to touch on, that I am not sure where to start, so I'll start with this.
I've spent the past few days in our new home pondering the "I needs" and the "I wants" in order to make our home comfortable and nice; spending our money, the Lord's money, before we even receive it. The reality is, we have everything we need already and then some. It is not getting what we want, it's wanting what he have. Everytime I have lookeda round the rooms of our house, I think about how I can make it work with what we already have, mildly get sad because "if only I had..." and then suddenly I get smacked right in the face with a hard dose of perspective today.
I came upon some photos of a friend's friend on facebook. (Gee...facebook for some perspective? LOL) She had posted pictures of her missions trip to Kenya. I showed the pictures to my 8 year old son and he just stood there dumbfounded and said he suddenly had a tummy ache. (Not sure if it was from the pictures or from the pizza he just ate, LOL)
A mother of 5 kids, whose husband passed away, with a mud hut house, a kitchen that has a dirt floor and no appliances, a dirt floor living room with one wooden chair (not even adult size) and one bed. Not even a bed you or I in the states would sleep on regularly; more like a hammock, for six people! My "little" 1500 square foot home with gigantic backyard, twelve inch tile floors, air conditioned, duet front loader washer and dryer, 2 tv's, stainless steel appliances, etc...is a MANSION compared to this house.
And yet, this family has a smile on their face in EVERY.PICTURE. They are content, they have perspective and they have joy, despite their circumstances. Although, I'm not so convinced that they believe they have a circumstance. Our western culture probably labels it so. ;) Anyway, "this" is God's will for them. A little girl comes home from school every day and washes her school uniform in the backyard in what resembles a little wading pool for our little people. This is after walking back from school for 3 miles. My kids can barely make their dirty clothes into the hamper! (Don't misunderstand; my kids are great kids and really do help! Just trying to illustrate a point.)
These families lives are simple and okay; complicated and pitiful to us. Yet, they are content and joyful and life goes on.
I'm not saying we need to ditch all our modern conveniences; just saying want what you've got and have some perspective. One key to simplifying your life is perspective. Another one is contentment and a third is joy; all in regard to your life and relationships. Also, looking to the most important relationship above all with God and discerning the priority and importance of time with him and acknowledging him.
I think this week I'll keep studying perspective and what my role is and urge my family to gain some persepective, find contentment and choose joy. Will you?
Some bible verses to ponder this week: Luke 10:42; Proverbs 3:6 and Isiah 30:21
