Contentment

I was going to post pictures of the redo I have been working for a week.   I redid the kids bedroom into a bedroom/playroom with a little school/study/read area.  When I first started wanting to do it I researched a lot and found a lot of great ideas.  I put together a list of items I thought were necessary to make this playroom cute and functional.  When I totaled up the items they came to over $700 and that wasn't including new bedding or curtains.  When I shared my ideas with my husband he gently reminded me that we recently bought some neat containers for the room from IKEA, but he did not say I shouldn't go ahead with it.

Well, that made me think that maybe I could make the room cute and redo it for cheaper with items I had on hand and then buy some fabric and make duvet covers and curtains.  So I redid their room for $75.  I haven't bought fabric yet but I don't plan to spend too much on that.

This whole situation really got me thinking about contentment.  I have written about it before regarding my small house that I love.  I think so many Americans think they need more stuff.  I will tell you that in my life, I have never been more content than I am right now.  This could be because everything I dreamed about as a child has come true - I am married to a wonderful man who loves me, I have 3 sweet babies that I adore and I get to stay at home and be their mommy.

I had many days in my life that I was not content and I made others lives very miserable and I regret that.  I wish I could have been more content in those situations but something was always pulling at me.  I don't know if we can relate lack of contentment to so many of the problems for Christians in modern America but I definitely think we could make a case.

I am trying to tread lightly and really think about the words I use here. 

I think we need to examine the reasons that we work.  For me, I feel like if my family is being fed, we have a roof over our heads and the utilities are being paid then everything else is just cake.  So do I go back to work for disposable income so I can buy more disposable things (things that will eventually break or be destroyed or turned to dust)?

Or do I continue to stay home and raise my children, keep my home clean and organized, cook and serve good meals and make time for discipleship of others?  I see A HUGE lack of discipleship among Christians everywhere.  I see it among my friends, my family, my acquaintances.  People do not have time nor do they make time for relationships and more importantly for discipleship.

Can you do all of the above and still work a job - of course you can, but what are your motives?

Now, I know there are exceptions for single moms and for those wives of husbands who require them to work (I completely understand that) and for those folks that are deeply in debt or in a medical crisis.

We have to remember that people are more important than anything else.  Furthering the kingdom of Christ is the most important thing in our lives.

I see a blatant correlation to discontentment and wanting more stuff and working more and not being available for relationships, for discipleship, for serving.

We need to see the home as a place that is for mission minded hospitality along with taking care of our own family.

It is on my heart.  It is not meant to condemn or to hurt.  I just want you to think differently than the culture tells you to.

And please take to time to read this Missional Homemaking Handout from one of my favorite blogs Passionate Homemaking.  It changes the way you think of your home.  Homemaking is about people.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you"  Hebrews 13:5


Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  I Tim. 6:6-7

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:11-13

. . . Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.  Proverbs 30: 8b-9