Sometimes the Lord has a way of smacking me up side the head. Many of my long time readers know that that my family tried to sell our house last year. The house was on the market for over a year, but because of the way the market is in our area we have decided to take down the sign. I have been less than happy with the turn of events. I went from angry with God, angry with my husband, not caring, jealous of others, ignoring, apathetic, and back again. Oh what a thorn I have with this. I have cried to my Mom saying whatever I have planned in this last year the Lord closed the door. After so many closed doors my heart has just sunk. I wish I could say I am back on track, but the Lord did speak to me boldly this last weekend.
I was washing my boy’s bed sheets and struggling to get them back on to the bunk beds. Anyone who has owned bunk beds know that changing their sheets equals as much energy as running a small marathon. I was grumbling about the effort and then I over heard my oldest son and manly man talking in the living room. I heard the phrase, “that is why they all think we are rich.” Good thing I did not have a drink because I would have spit it out, shocked by that comment. I asked my oldest son to repeat what he said, and he said “all my friends that came over yesterday think we are really rich.” Yeah right, I mumbled stomping back into the bedroom two of my boys share because we only have two rooms for three boys. Then as I was struggling with the sheets again the Lord spoke to my heart and said YOU ARE RICH what are you complaining about? And the Lord began listing all my blessings in my heart.
Oh I know I am rich compared to the suffering in other countries, which is why I support all the effort Compassion does. But rich compared to the friends my son hangs out with? You see I have spent too much time looking at what others have that seem to be out of my reach, instead of viewing what I do have. God has blessed us by being debt free, we are blessed in being able to take a vacation each summer. There is so much the Lord has given me, but all I could see is what I didn’t have. All I could see were people who made less money have nicer stuff.
Yes our grass looks like a weed haven, each of my boys don’t have their own room, most of the furniture we have was given to us, oh the list could go on (believe me, this pity party has been my home for awhile). But I am ashamed to admit through my complaining, I did not realize how “rich” we were….even among our neighbors.
Thank you Lord for using a bunch of 8th grade boys to snap my perspective back to where it should be. Thank you for not giving up on me and continuing to weed out things in my heart that should not be there.
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UPDATE: Goodness then I wake up this morning to this quote, do you thing the Lord is talking to me, heheh.
“Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One to Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be, and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said “I will set my throne above the throne of God.” Faith looks out instead of in, and the whole life falls into line.”
- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1993), 85.
HT: First Importance
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Last year we tried to sell our home . . . actually had a pending contract offer on a loft back in Chicago. Three contracts dissolved right before our eyes in 10 days . . . that’s right 3 in 10 days! And then there was nothing for what seemed like an eternity. Ultimately, We also came to the conclusion that God was not blessing our decision to sell and move AND we thought after praying before and during that He was. . .ouch!!!
I understand the feelings you have had. Laurel I too was up to my neck in self-pity, but so much has changed since then and my husband and I can actually say “Praise God” for not letting us sell our home and move back to Chicago. I pray that today’s events with those 8th graders will be the first in corners turned where you will ultimately see the wisdom of God in having you remain right where you are. And may the corners come in His time . . . naturally. I want to encourage you in one very important thing . . . to be able to humble yourself and write such a post shows how rich you are in character and discipleship, Laurel! You are rich in Christ Jesus! Thank you for bringing your readers along on this part of your journey!!!!
My son has bunk beds too, and I feel your pain. Even though he only sleeps in the bottom, the top one is always unmade. What a great experience with God you shared. I know exactly what you mean through this post. Thanks for being so honest with all of us.
There is a huge difference between rich and blessed… you may not be rich by wordly standards, but you and your family are truly blessed. If only these lessons were easier to learn.
Laurel I so appreciate your vulnerability in sharing this. I took have attended this pity party at different times. I love how God used your son and his friends to show you something important.
My son wanted a loft bed and we made the deal he changes the sheets. I’m soooo glad he agreed.
My husband and I were just talking the other day about how skewed our country is and how our culture blinds us to the truth. We think we need to have ___ number of cars, $____ amount in the bank, ____ brand of clothing or purses or even sunglasses, in order to be rich. Or even, in order to be “comfortable.” I’ve had this pity party countless times, but I am trying to learn not to compare. It’s not easy, but it’s critical, in order for me to acknowledge and be thankful for what we have, and to know that it is, indeed, more than enough.
Great post Laurel and very timely too! My husband and I were just discussing this very topic over the weekend. We keep looking around and saying “they have more” but we aren’t appreciating all that God has given us. We have so much and to not thank God every day for it is truly a sin. Yes, people have bigger houses, better cars, more expensive clothes, but we are truly blessed and if someone heard us complain they’d say we were the most selfish people on the planet.
We’ve decided to try and do better and be grateful for all the wonderful things that God has given us.
That quote is inspiring! God is speaking to me about faith today as well . . . come see . . .
Laurel~
What a powerful post…and one I can relate too. The journey God has had our family on the past 2 years has been difficult to say the least….and yes…in through the worlds eyes…we may not have as much as the “Jones”…yet…as you’ve shared we are SO rich.
Part of my journey God has me on is keeping my eye’s on HIM…rather than what I think I don’t have. It’s hard…it’s difficult..yet life changing all at the same time.
I’ll be praying for you…as I pray for myself sweet friend!!
Blessing to you today.
Kim~
Bunk beds are from (to quote a movie character) “da debil!” (Waterboy’s mama) (Actually she said “foozbal was from da debil”) but I have been there.
The house thing. I am sorry—I have never tried to sell one—however—-we did lose one. Along with my favorite flower garden, my breakfast room, all freshly done, my prayer place, etc. In some hard circumstances of life—through my husband’s job—or lack thereof (construction)—and our oldest daughter’s second baby being born 2 1/2 months early and me having to relocate to Birmingham for 3 months to be with her because her husband was in Iraq—she had bloodpressure problems and couldn’t drive—due to complications of her preg.—in that length of time, we sunk—to the very bottom. But God in His infinite grace and mercy picked us up. We never went w/o food. We always had our transportation….and although we did lose our house, the Lord had a reason. AND He transplanted us somewhere else, that we would have never moved—-had things not happened the way they did.
So, He has a reason—-and a purpose—-and daily it is being fulfilled—-just hold on to Him.
I sound full of faith and strength today huh? Should have seen me yesterday. It is a daily process with each of us.
I love you girl. I am praying for all things to work for your good…because you are called and chosen by Him for His good work. AND your faith and trust is in HIM.
I have the tale-end of that quote written above our bedroom mirror.
You know, I know exactly where you are coming from –we couldn’t sell this place if we tried due to certain issues with the house and the fact that we are no where near debt free as yet. Eventually we will have a place that is not falling down around us, with furniture we chose, but for now I am grateful that we have a house that is big enough (though the girls share a room), that we can afford, with furniture that was all a gift from God.
Oh, Laurel - it is so true - our kids can sometimes teach us a little about contentment.
Oh - I love the last part of the quote - “Faith looks out instead of in, and the whole life falls into line.” I think that should go on one of my scrap-pages
My youngest son has a bunkbed in his room, the one with the double on the bottom. He has his own room, but frequent sleepovers. I often selfishly ask them to share the bottom, but I get “oooooouuuuuuu” which translates “No Way!” So I have to wash the top too. I know the pain with bunk beds and I’m ready to sell it and he can use a cot. This is such a good message –look out is faith, inward is selfish. Thanks for sharing. (just a few days behind here :))
Blessings in Christ–
Oh, that is such a perfect quote, no matter where you are in life. I love how God is the Great Teacher, using all of his creations to get through our thick heads!
My experience after visiting with my boys 14, 18 about your post is that in their opinion ANY home in which the parents love each other, the family functions as a family, and Mom is a “Mom” is rich to them…..they tell me in this city we’ve moved to that sitting down to dinner is foreign to most of their friends, that they are shocked by what they see visiting others…lots of “stuff” not much “home” in the way their friends are spoken to….. My own pity parties are fit for royalty some days, but the more I work on being comfortable that if I’m good enough for God…. flawed and all, Its okay just to be me.
hugs hugs hugs,
shan
Don’t you just marvel at the way He leads His children so gently into His light? What a great story you have shared here. Thanks for that.
I just found your blog, and I love it. Good writing here!
Come by and visit anytime.
Janera
http://www.mygardenhat.blogspot.com