I daily live in two extremes.
To one extreme, I’m driven by the “need” for things in my home to make it more complete. Among the list of things I’ve been constantly searching for on Craigslist lately: a sofa/love seat instead of our sectional because it will function better in our open living area, patio furniture, a futon for Brent’s office. And then there’s the list of things we “need” to help our home’s appearance (and also help maintain it): painting the house (in and out), replacing the carpet, fixing the slanted floor in the first two bedrooms, cutting down some trees, destroying the awkward backyard landscaping that is IMPOSSIBLE to care for, and for that matter doing something with all the landscaping.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I find myself searching for 1300 sq foot or smaller homes in the area. If I had a smaller home, I wouldn’t need all the extra things. We would have less to maintain. Instead of needing to buy more things, we would need to sell our things because we would not have room for it all.
I’ve lived in the 1300 sq ft home, I’ve lived in the basement apartment with 1 bathroom, and I now live in something larger.
Let me be clear. I am grateful for my current house and I don’t look back with regret. It would take more than a blog post, but it is SO evident that we are right where He wants us (maybe I should write a book!). God richly blessed us with the house we are in. It serves our needs and then some. It has room to grow and I can see us in this house for the long haul.
But I want to say something to 1300 sq ft Brittany.
Enjoy your one living space. Joyfully smile at the fact that Lily’s toys take over that one living space. Fill your quaint home with loud laughter and not quiet complaints about it’s size. Don’t complain about doing laundry in the garage because one day you’ll be carrying it up and down two flights of stairs. Spend your time making it a home instead of dreaming of the day you call a bigger house your home. Have people over and don’t worry about how everyone will feel crowded, or that there won’t be enough places to sit down to dinner, or how people might compare your small estate to their larger one and think pitifully of you. There is something beautiful in that small space of yours and though it may not be the bright mustard yellow walls in your kitchen that you never found the time to paint, it is woven in the love and fellowship with the people that reside there.
The grass is always greener where you are, never where you are not.
I call a bigger house my home now. I find myself dreaming of days that used to be reality. Being able to hear every word spoken from one end of the house to the other. Being able to clean my entire house top to bottom in two hours. Not having to chase my toddler around the house because it was small and there wasn’t any place that was off limits (like stairs). Watching TV, cooking dinner, and playing in the playroom all in the same space. All the things I desired to be different, I realize they were all I needed. Because I now have more than I need and I’m missing the bare necessities.
A Merry Heart 