February 1, 2016 - The contrast is stark and blaring

Well, there is nothing like reading a friend’s, who happens to be a missionary overseas, blog post to stop you in your greedy tracks and put your heart back into order. She and her family, like myself, had just moved into a new house. You could “see” her literally beaming from ear to ear as she described her new home and surroundings. The 2 bedroom house now housing 2 parents and 4 kids. A photo of the kid’s shared room looked like a jigsaw puzzle of mattresses on the floor with barely a free inch to move about. Then a glimpse of the bathroom with little to no “comforts” of an American home. Then traveling to the dining room where the table was a rug on the floors and sitting around the rug were a group of 10 or so neighbors all in delight at today’s menu.

A few excerpts to give you the idea (for safety for her and her family I have purposely not listed her name or location):

… I love this room! We are trying to be like our local friends and not have a dining room table- we eat on the floor- we put another little blanket on the rug, then a plastic cover on that and then the thin doshaks (foam mattresses) stacked at the back are set out around the plastic.  So far, so good..

…The kids’ room is really fun!  We threw their mattresses on the floor for the first night here, you know, while everything was still in boxes.  The next day, they begged us not to assemble their bunkbeds! So now they have this super fun room which is great for wrestling and playing!...

…sheesh, there was gunk all over this kitchen- I literally scraped each tile in here and then scrubbed it with a sponge! It was so dirty! So my sink overlooks our street and we have put up the cutest white sheer curtain over the sink there (need to get that pic for you).  Oh yes, and that’s a dishwasher!!! We haven’t had one the 7 years we lived outside of America!...

…This is the “junkyard” as our boys lovingly call the empty lot across from our house.  It looked so beautiful here because the snow covered up all the junk.  It’s super fun for the kids, though! I’m happy for them to have it to explore- we still all miss the “wilderness” from our village house…

In every photo or description of words there is an excitement that simply cannot be contained! And a graciousness exuding of all that God had provided for her family. Her simple décor in her home is beyond beautiful as you read the delight in her heart as the words flow to the page.  In her “junkyard” she see possibility for her kids. In cleaning her kitchen she found purpose in providing meals for neighbors. In the kids room they can’t wait to sleep tetris style on the floor! Hers, a perfectly contented heart.

Meander over to my world for a minute. Frustration at delayed hardwood installation. Bitterness of still living on sub-floors with dust piling up on every surface. Aching backs from temporarily sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Irritation at having to go to 4 different rooms to find articles of clothing each time I need to get dressed. Eyes rolling at a backdoor unexpectedly needing to be replaced. Overwhelmed at more room that I will ever need, though jumbled and disorganized by renovation. Discontentment at a barren but huge backyard that sits empty from lack of motivation. Growling at the 4^th coat of paint now applied to cover the blue ceiling. I bicker and I complain at every turn in this renovation process that is now a month in.  Mine, a situation induced discontented heart.

The contrast is stark and blaring….and perfectly timed as I read her words of relocation. I flash back to the 4 kids with mattresses on the floor and only a foot of space between the mattresses and the closet door they all 4 share. I become acutely aware of my greed, despite downsizing, despite following God’s prompting, despite having so many luxuries. I was missing the whole point! Where was my excitement to climb into bed at night on the mattresses on the floor? Where was my content in being able to dine not on a floor but at a glass table with chairs. My house is empty of neighbors gathered around for fellowship and a meal. So who is the winner here?  She has so little yet has so very much! I have so much and yet my heart reflects so little.

God met me in this moment as I read her delight. I will no longer be complaining of renovation deadlines missed. You will not hear me speak of having an empty downstairs. I will keep my lips zipped as I endure yet another day of 15 hours worked. And my heart will not harden as I feel the impact of Ron’s surgery this week and us not being settled in our home on time. She quickly and unknowingly reminded me that having less is having more and that my heart should delight in all things given. He brought me to this for my season and for my being.

Deuteronomy 30:6     The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Psalm 40:8              I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 51:10               Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Prayers for this week:

1.       Ron has surgery on Friday for his torn rotator cuff . While I am grateful to be on this side of the surgical table, I do not wish this on him. He will be unable to drive for 3 weeks and in a sling for 8 weeks. Prayers for wisdom from the surgeon and swift healing.
2.       Prayers for this missionary family serving overseas. Prayers for safety and boldness in a new culture as they follow God’s heart.  And prayers of thanksgiving as she unknowingly refocused my heart through her openness.
3.       Prayers for those of us State-side that God will continue to capture our hearts for His plans. 

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