I've thought for a while about writing about our house. Not because I think it's a terribly exciting, stylish or interesting house (it isn't) but simply because it's a good exercise in contentment. One of my least appealing traits is a tendency to always want to move on to the next thing; be that the next book, the next pregnancy or the next house. I struggle to just stay still, enjoy life as it is and wait patiently for events to unfold naturally.
This can have a negative impact on those around me. The times when I've pestered Hubby with questions about moving house and decorating are the times when our relationship has been strained. He takes it personally, which is understandable. By focusing my attention on 'upgrading', I am basically telling him that I am dissatisfied with what I've got and I don't appreciate the hard work it took him to build the life we have now. Ingratitude is an ugly thing...and a sin.
So I am resolved once and for all to put aside all of that selfishness and really celebrate the little home we live in and the life it gives us.
And indeed, living in small house does bring with it a great quality of life. In fact, for a stay at home mother (or wife) a small house is an absolute God-given gift! Just think about it...
1. Housework. It's pretty obvious I suppose, but with a smaller house comes less cleaning, tidying and housework which means in turn more time to devote to our families, friends, hobbies and relaxation or quiet prayer time. And who could say that is a bad thing?
2. Consumerism. This can be seen one of two ways, but I've decided that for me, this is definitely a blessing. Less room has to mean less stuff. If all you have in the way of storage is a tiny cupboard under the stairs then you have to think carefully before making any big home purchases. Everything has to have a designated place. The up-shot of this is there is less to organise and less to tidy up. Which again, means more time for the things that really matter in life...
3. Creativity. Working out how to store all your kitchen appliances when you've got a kitchen that measures 40 square foot is a challenge but it forces you to think outside the box and come up with original and creative solutions. These in turn become the stamps of individuality that add life and interest to a home. After all, no one wants to live in a cookie-cutter house...
4. Money. Perhaps the biggest blessing that comes from living in a small house is the financial benefit. It takes less money to heat and air-condition a small house, mortgage or rental payments are inevitably less and less space means less to furnish. The potential savings are quite significant. A small house enables families to live more within their means which provides an enormous boost to quality of life and overall happiness. Study after study has shown that once people have enough money to clothe and feed themselves adequately as well as keep a roof over their heads without worrying about the where the next pay-cheque is coming from, there is no more happiness to be gained from having more money.
There may well be more positives that I just haven't thought of. Certainly when I began to really think about all the benefits of living in a small space, I realised that there were more than I first thought.
But the overall result of all of them is the same. Living Small can bring about a much greater quality of life. If paying the bills can be achieved without too much worry and strain and housework done with time to spare, then the stay at home wife and mother has that much more time to pursue her interests or just be with her family. I don't want to pretend that there aren't challenges; of course there are, in any living situation. And I know for lots of people, affording even a really small house can be a difficulty in this economic climate, but
right now, in this moment, I want to focus on the real pleasures and blessings that a small house can bring to the lives of those that live in it. I am lucky enough to be one of those people. And I thank God for that gift.
"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises".
Psalm 47:6
3 comments:
Mary, I could have written this myself! I think you and I must, indeed, be kindred spirits. This was so needed for me to read today.
If you were looking for more points, the one I would add is:
* You get to anticipate more! After all, for those of us who love to vision and look ahead, what would be the fun in getting everything you want all at the very beginning?
Hello! Love these thoughts. :) We're certainly in the same boat in house size, and I agree that less space (which means less cleaning and organizing) means more time to be creative with my hands and to spend time with Trevvor when he arrives at home each evening!
You spell check funny. ;) I love British spellings, and after I've been on a British novel stint I find myself sub-consciously changing my spelling too, haha.
Also, could you change the link to my blog in your sidebar to my updated link, http://his-keeper-at-home.blogspot.com? Or you could grab one of my new buttons. :)
Bethany,
That is a great point. I had missed that.
I'm chuffed you liked the post!
Stephanie - The 'British' spellings may just possibly be mis-spellings, I only learned last year that definately had no 'a' in it! Yes indeed...I confess I am a rubbish speller (and my grammar isn't too hot either!)
Will update your link pronto :-)
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