My Heart's Content
>> Thursday, January 17, 2008 –
Faith,
Frugal Ideas,
Homemaking
This post from Meredith at Like Merchant Ships made me think of a time that I went shopping at Pottery Barn. Is there anyone out there who is NOT a total Pottery Barn junkie? I love the place. I love their magazines. I love dreaming of what I'd like to do in my home to make it look beautiful. I rarely actually shop there because...well...I seem to have misplaced the "money tree" seeds. When I find them, I'll plant them in my yard and then I can shop at PB all I want. But for now, I just have to oogle at their magazines and improvise.
Anyway...I was shopping at PB when it first opened here. I was wandering through the store, just looking and smelling and touching. So pretty, so rich, so soft, so smooth, so cozy...I found myself staring at a woman who was loading...I mean LOADING up her basket with whatever she saw. She clearly had one of those trees in her yard.
I admit it - I was jealous. I coveted. I was positively green with envy. "Why not me, Lord? Why can't I do what I want to do in my house?" It wasn't a real question, and I wasn't expecting a real answer. But sometimes He answers even when we're not expecting it.
Suddenly I felt Him. You know the feeling? The feeling that He's right there? Like if you turn your head fast enough, you'll actually see Him. I love that feeling. And He spoke to my heart in that loving and gentle, yet firm voice of His. I love His voice too. Man, just telling you this story has put tears in my eyes.
He said simply, "Daiquiri, you have Me in your home."
That's all I needed to hear. I suddenly couldn't get out of there fast enough. There wasn't a thing in that store that I needed in that moment. I was so content. He was perfectly...enough for me.
Diaq,
You are so very lucky. I want to turn and see God standing there. I was struggling a little today but you make me day.
YaYa
Thanks for sharing your lovely story. It's too bad that when confronted with temptation, many do not see the spiritual in front of them - they only see the worldly & they often choose that.
One cannot take these things with us when we die. It's not that I don't think that no one should ever have nice things. But when you are willing to trade your life hours just in order to have a nicer home, nicer clothes, better food, vacations, etc., then yes, I think it is worldly and one is simply trading materialism for things that cannot be bought - things in this world like more time with your loved ones, your children, husband and family, friends. Life is so much more than "stuff" which is why I don't struggle with owning so much of it. I am content with what I do have because I have been blessed with enough & have what I NEED.
How much time do we spend in caring for stuff - cleaning it, storing it, organizing it. That is time that is better spent creating memories. It is only when one doesn't have those blessings of people in their life anymore will they begin to understand what is truly important in this life.
If we would stop comparing our lives to one another and start going to God and what He wants I believe that is when we will be enlightened and really see what matters most.
Who on their death bed would ever be grateful for the things they were able to acquire in this life? Rather, I think it is the time we gave to others, the love we shared, those who loved us back that will mean the most.
God bless, Lyn
This sounds very like what the pastor preached about Sunday. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Why do some suffer in life and others don't? And he had a new take I had not heard before. God loves all of us. Even the rich man (and those like him). what's more, God KNOWS who will reject him and who won't. Maybe, sometimes, when God can not bless for eternity, when he knows the person is not going to come to him ever, the only way he can show his love is by blessing in this world.
That is a beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing it.
What a beautiful story and wonderful reminder. May we all have Him in our hearts and our homes.
I hope this doesnt sound like a bad thing to say after such a nice story, but I love pottery barn as much as you do. I have gotten tons of pottery barn stuff on craigslist for next to nothing. Honestly, like I got a beautiful white bed for my daughter for $100.I am sure the first owners paid close to $1000! There are many good deals to be found there. Forget ebay, they sell pottery barn items for the same or more than the store!
Once I heard a POW speak about his time as a prisoner. He said, "We had one luxury ... an abundance of free time."
When I read your story the 2nd time, that hit me. You had time to savor and enjoy your trip. The fast-shopping woman might have a fast-paced life all through.
I picture her as a lawyer. $400 for each billable hour. But living in a pressure-cooker environment.
I'm not jealous of her. But a little jealous of you.
Jora
BTW, the POW's American commander found ways to make them use that free time so they wouldn't deteriorate -- memorizing every poem they ever learned; learning code to communicate among themselves; etc.
Thank you for a lovely post, and a lovely reminder that He is in my home, as well!
--Barbara
Hi! This post is a little late since I just now surfed in... This topic really hits home for me,as I was trained in part to run a segment of the consumerism machine in my "previous life". so here's my two cents.... I'd like to add that anyone doing what you saw that lady doing probably doesn't do that every day.If she does truly do that everywhere she goes, she might need counseling and a quick prayer sent in her direction is probably the best response you can give.
I had to drum this into my spouse's head early in our marriage when he'd whine about having to save when he saw all sorts out splurgeing wherever we went.
Here are my three best reasons not to feel covetous - 1.- Perhaps that lady was blessed with a birthday windfall or some other gift of cash from a dear friend or loved one. 2. -Perhaps she had been saving like mad for a whole year just to give herself an hour of luxury? 3. - Perhaps as I intimated above, she was ADDICTED to shopping. There are many women and men who are. It fills a void for folks who feel insecure about themselves or their place in this world and gives them a sense of control.
I also like to focus on the position of stuff versus substance in our lives. I always tell my young daughter that the makers of stuff always prefer you to feel inadequate or out of date so you will think buying their stuff will make you a better person. This can really subvert a person's sense of value. If you fall for it, you are mistaking stuff for substance.
Now, who of us really needs to be forced into melancholy by the consumerism machine? Whenever you feel that funny "i want" feeling creeping up on you, picture your home and family and think of your life without those blessings. I do and it always seems to snap me back into perspective.Love to all!
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