Being Content With Our Homes

by Mandi on April 25, 2011

Our home being assembled. Yes, I did climb that ladder at 8 months pregnant...

Contentment is something I think about a lot, and I think it’s an important attitude to cultivate in regards to our homes as well.

That’s easier said than done sometimes, though.

Don’t get me wrong. I love our home. I love the lot our home is built on. We are blessed, and I don’t ever take that for granted.

But when you build your own house (or in our case, have the manufactured shell delivered and then do all of the finish work yourself), the many projects and details that are left undone – not permanently, but for a time as you prioritize the rest – can sometimes drive you batty.

Sometimes I fall into the habit of focusing more on what’s not done than what is done. To be honest, sometimes it feels like our house will never be finished. There are still door frames and trim and paint and flooring and…well, you get the picture.

And if I’m entirely honest, while I love to share pictures of my home, sometimes the idea of people visiting can be stressful because I’m afraid they’ll miss the beauty and just notice the things that aren’t done.

Our home now, three years later and still in need of landscaping and stone facade.

But the reality is that contentment means being content no matter what. It means being content in a home that is unfinished because of a lack of time (hey, we have four children five years old and under…life is busy!) and a lack of money.

It means being content in a rental even when you’re unable to make changes and decorate it the way you want to.

It means being content when you’re in a busy season and the clutter has gotten out of hand.

And it means being content with unfinished decorating projects and landscaping.

I’ve shared this blurb from a book called Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow before. I have these principles hanging on the bulletin board in my laundry room, and I refer back to them often. I’ve been applying them to the way I think about our home, and they really do make a difference in my attitude:

Never allow yourself to compain about anything — not even the weather.
Never picture yourself in any other circumstance or someplace else.
Never compare your lot with another’s.
Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
Never dwell on tomorrow — remember that tomorrow is God’s, not ours.

Is contentment something you struggle with when it comes to your home? Do you tend to focus more on what isn’t done than what is done? Tell us one thing you LOVE about your home!

annaleahart

this can be so hard to remember. but that excerpt is great (as is the book) and i think i will post it as a reminder in our home. thanks for the idea.

i LOVE that we used bright and bold colors throughout – especially during long and gray illinois winters. i also LOVE the open floor plan on our second floor – we call it the treehouse. and how can i not LOVE our amazing backyard where we enjoy the simple beauty of being outside and are blessed to grow our own food.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZKEBUKVNUV7PLM6CD5YGRZMHZA krsitain vanci

Everyone that I LOVE and NEED in my life live under THIS roof.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

I love the way you worded this — beautiful!

http://www.successful-homeschooling-blog.com Carletta

I don’t struggle with contentment with my home – it is just a perfect fit for us at this point in life. But I do struggle in other areas. Thanks for sharing this. I’m printing the quote for myself!

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Isn’t that an awesome quote?! I love it!

Shannon

It’s close to my job which saves me time, time that can then be spent with my family. Thanks for this, I needed it today.

Shannon

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Sounds like a great benefit to focus on! And you’re welcome — thanks for
stopping by!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1275861925 KateandBill Blevins

I love this! Very true! We are STILL renting after almost 7 years of marriage. Sometimes, I find myself with homeowner’s envy. I’m thankful that God has provided and will continue provide us what home we need for our family.
http://www.forfreeyatake.blogspot.com Julie

Our home is over 60 years old and looks {and smells} like it. It is hard to be content when the floor is rotten and the doors are falling apart. I still thank God for this house b/c it is so much more than I had growing up {and so much more than MANY others can ever dream of having}. Needless to say, I don’t invite many people over…it’s just too stressful.
Camille

I was just sharing with a friend that I am finally letting go of my “idol” of having a perfect home! It’s not my reality, and cannot fill my thoughts any longer, the more i dwell on Jesus the author of my faith, the more content I become. I am so thankful for being set free!!! Thanks for sharing this story. I think many women fall into the trap of comparing our lives, bodies, homes, kids and more to everybody else.. it it sin!
But God is so faithful , patient and kind … and I am oh so thankful for Him

Camille
Rae

I am so thankful for our home. It is so much more than we would have “normally” been able to handle living on one income while I stay home with my children. My hubby’s Grandparents left and inheritance of farm land (to be divided evenly amongst several families) which didn’t sell until about 5 years after Grandpa’s death. The requirement was that the money had to be used as a downpayment on a house or to pay down the principle on an existing mortgage. It was so frustrating to wait all of that time. I was sooooo in God’s timing though. The land sold and closed just days before a house that we had been keeping an eye for a couple of years (yes, years) had a huge drop in price. The price drop put it right, smack dab into our price range. Thanks to the price drop, Grandpa’s land selling, a gift from my In-Laws, my dad (a Realtor) offering his services for free with selling our previous and buying our new home, and God’s perfect timing, we got a home that is way more than we could have ever expected.

Now I just struggle with not being able to do all of the little personal touches that I long for. I try hard to keep my focus on the blessing of our home and not all of the details that aren’t as I would like them. Our home is a GIFT!!!!

Thanks for the reminder.
Rae

I am so thankful for our home. It is so much more than we would have “normally” been able to handle living on one income while I stay home with my children. My hubby’s Grandparents left and inheritance of farm land (to be divided evenly amongst several families) which didn’t sell until about 5 years after Grandpa’s death. The requirement was that the money had to be used as a downpayment on a house or to pay down the principle on an existing mortgage. It was so frustrating to wait all of that time. I was sooooo in God’s timing though. The land sold and closed just days before a house that we had been keeping an eye for a couple of years (yes, years) had a huge drop in price. The price drop put it right, smack dab into our price range. Thanks to the price drop, Grandpa’s land selling, a gift from my In-Laws, my dad (a Realtor) offering his services for free with selling our previous and buying our new home, and God’s perfect timing, we got a home that is way more than we could have ever expected.

Now I just struggle with not being able to do all of the little personal touches that I long for. I try hard to keep my focus on the blessing of our home and not all of the details that aren’t as I would like them. Our home is a GIFT!!!!

Thanks for the reminder.
Chathamgirl97

I love the size of my home. A little over a year ago
my husband & I sold our 3500 sq. ft. home that we
had custom built & moved into a 1000 sq Ft. 45 year
old ranch. It’s so easy to clean & maintain. It has
character & my new neighborhood is so much friendlier.
It allowed us to quit our jobs & spend our days doing
what we want to do. We love it!

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Very cool story — thanks for sharing!

http://www.morethanmundane.com Krissa

I actually love our current home (we rent). It has a great backyard, wood floors, and more! I do struggle with discontentment in many many areas of my life though, and I loved this post and the tips at the end…easier said than done thought!

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

It definitely takes practice, not a one-time decision!

http://www.morethanmundane.com Krissa

I actually love our current home (we rent). It has a great backyard, wood floors, and more! I do struggle with discontentment in many many areas of my life though, and I loved this post and the tips at the end…easier said than done thought!
Anna Wegner

I read the book you mentioned; I even copied the expert you included into my journal as a reminder. I was especially impressed about the story of the missionary mother in Africa who would not complain about anything- even the weather! I complain about the weather ALOT!
Thanks for the reminder.

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

I know — it seems like such an insignificant thing, why not complain about
it? But it really does reveal our heart, I think (which is not to say I
don’t complain about it still, because I do!)

Anna Wegner

I read the book you mentioned; I even copied the expert you included into my journal as a reminder. I was especially impressed about the story of the missionary mother in Africa who would not complain about anything- even the weather! I complain about the weather ALOT!
Thanks for the reminder.
http://livingthebalancedlife.com Bernice Wood

I had to come to terms with this as well. We have lived in our home 22 years. We did a renovation/remodel 12 years ago. We had a MAJOR problem with contractors, lost a lot of money, and ended up with a mess to finish on our own. I learned how to finish sheetrock and did all the painting. Well there are still things that are not done. Every project turns into a major one because we find things that weren’t done correctly, therefore many projects have been delayed. I finally learned to come to grips with a 90% finished house or otherwise I would make myself nuts over the whole thing! And the thing it, most of the things people wouldn’t even notice, like no crown molding! I would, however, really like to have the tile done in my shower, lol!
Bernice
How to be an active participant in your own life

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Bernice, I have a feeling your sense of humor gets you through a lot of
things in life, LOL! And I hope you have tile in your shower soon!!!

Notjustcute

I just did my first t-shirt repurposing projects last week, and I’m addicted! I made two cute embellished Ts out of four Tshirts — three of which were on their way to the donation bag. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store. These necklaces are darling and would be great as bracelets as well.
Aneville277

We also did this idea.. running out of T-shirts.. the necklace is cute.. but our sleepover guests quickly flipped them into their hair… and presto! they make the cutest headbands too!
Pingback: {30} Posts I’m Proud Of | Life Your Way