Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Contentment

The back of my closet (when relatively clean) usually looks warm and friendly when the light turns on (although, lately, it's been really cold in there.) My little hopechest greets me, and sends a small tinge of excitement through my head as I think of the "treasures" stored in it. I love to imagine how I'll look at my collection of homemaking items when I'm grown up and keeping house on my own, knowing that "when I was twelve years old I crochetted this dishrag for my hopechest," and "when I was fourteen years old, my mother gave me this cake pan to keep for occasions just like this."

Sometimes though, I also think of the sadness that will come with the use of these items. I know the days and years are flying past, and someday it might be time for me to go live in a different house, perhaps miles and miles away from this home that I have known and loved so much - then I can pull out the dishrag I made when "I was twelve" and think of the happy times I had then.

Someday we'll all look back on this time of dreaming and making plans for the future, when we didn't have to make sure the bills were paid and the children got to bed on time, when the meals were served like clockwork, and when sisters and brothers were basically the only people we occasionally had trouble getting along with. I guess we'll have our joys then, like now, but the grass "always looks greener on the other side." (Even if only "sometimes.")

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is - if to no one but myself - try to enjoy this part of your life to the fullest. Personally, I find that looking to the future too much can cause discontentment in my life. If you live only to grow up and have a family of your own, you look at these years - so quickly passing - and think they are just a waste of time, a training ground for what's to come.

This is partially true, the growing up years are a training ground for what's to come. But, they are also much more. God can use us now if we let Him. We don't have to grow up and have a family of our own in order to serve Him faithfully. There is so much to be enjoyed and appreciated now, in these fleeting years.

 So, let's enjoy them! And may God give us grace.

6 comments:

Bailey said...

Amen. There's no one season (a.k.a. marriage and motherhood) that's superior to the rest and is to be desired above all else. We are here on this earth not to get married or start a family but to proclaim Christ's glory...in whatever context we're in right now.

Excellent post. :o)

Anna said...

Thank you Bayleaf... :) I'm so glad for all of you young ladies whom I share my veiws with.

Virginia said...

I have a question... Do you know where I might buy one of those little hopechests? Mine is currently A bunch of boxes haha!

Anna said...

Virginia: I could ask my Mom...I really don't have an actual "hopechest." Somebody gave me an almost antique-ish looking chest (two feet by one foot :D) and I've been putting things in boxes since that got kinda full.

Virginia said...

Haha! I've heard from Joel that you can buy raw cedar chests from Amish stores? but there's none around here! haha!

Anna said...

There is actually an Amish store near Shawano....I don't know if it sells raw cedar chests though. It might! :)