Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gratitude

This month, I'm joining Curious Girl in blogging about those things that I am grateful for. I spend a lot of time doing the "if only we had more money" thing, so when Lisa brought up this topic I thought it would be a great exercise for me.

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Today I am grateful for our home. I've written about how close we came to losing it and how we danced on the edge of homelessness. But my in-laws would have nothing of that and are helping us with our payments until we are more financially stable.

I watch HGTV manically and I'm always struck by how the people on House Hunters "need" so much room in their houses. Our house is small by most people's standards, but if you compare what we have to other parts of the world, we live like kings. And we have So Much Stuff. A few years ago a photographer had a family who lived in a mud hut in Africa and an American family put everything that they owned on their front lawns and took a picture of both. It was almost embarrassing how much more the American family had.

I struggle to teach our children that life is not about more, more, more; I'm not sure how much is getting through. It took me this long to realize that we could live a really nice life on very little money, it just meant that the couch was going to stay old and stained, some of my clothes would have little holes in them, and we weren't going to buy everything in the world for our children. We have so much already, we really don't need anymore.

Our needs have been supplied and we have a beautiful home to return to every day. For that, I am grateful.

15 comments:

lisa said...

so beautifully expressed! i imagine your home is so full of love and light and gratitude.

p.s. i don't get the whole giant space thing either...like when the realtor says, "all buyers are expecting the master suite"? what the what?

Amy said...

Hi Erin, I love this post. Keeps up the 'simple abundance' theme I try to remember in our home. Do you keep a gratitude journal? You list 3 things you are grateful for every day. It's a pretty powerful tool, helps you to very rarely feel lacking.

Your post makes me feel you are content. Long may it continue! Big love from UK x

Emily said...

It's very convicting to read about people in the poorest countries in the world and how little they have, and yet statistically they are much more content and truly joyful than we are in America. It's difficult to really be "content in all circumstances," like the apostle Paul said. It definitely goes against our human nature.

Lois Evensen said...

Erin, I so agree that it is so good for us to think about all that we have instead of all that we think we should have. Very good post.

Hugs,
Lois

Cora said...

I totally agree! Less is more!

Lovely World said...

What a lovely post. I too notice my mind start to want "more" (whatever that may be), and then I remember how very much I have already. We live fortunate lives here in the U.S. Sometimes I wonder if we stop appreciating what we have, we will lose it.

Jenn said...

Erin,
Lovely post:) And yes, I agree completely we don't need so much stuff and space! Lovely blog...I too shall be following you:)

* said...

Thanks for sharing, I agree as well.

Blooming Rose Musings said...

You know, I was just talking with someone about this exact topic. I don't get the huge space thing either. I am so thankful for all the good blessings in my life. I'm sure they are small compared to lots of others but they mean the world to me. I guess everyone likes to dream big but the reality is to be thankful...especially when you watch the news of people in other countries and also in this country. Very nice post!

Deb said...

Hi Erin,
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I will be following you too. :) I love this first post of yours...being grateful and finding contentment in what we do have.

xo,Deb

Myrna R. said...

This post made me feel a lot of tenderness and gratitude for your gratitude. (Does that even make sense?) You are a good model for those who focus only on material wealth.

Anonymous said...

I look at my Monk and think about all the things that he wants compared to what he needs. Kids just seems to "need" more than we ever did growing up. I think you're right, and we need to get back to the basics. Aren't in-laws wonderful! We live with mine, and they are fantastic!

Amy said...

I also spend alot of time moping over our finances, but you're right--I really have so much. Thank you for sharing this reminder. =)

Claudia said...

so true - the really important things in life can't be bought with money..

Pamela Holderman said...

It's so easy to fall into the 'I need this' mode and so important to stop and count our blessings which are so numerous. How much happier we would all be if we did this daily or even every hour, right?

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