So, it occurred to me that I've shared almost no photos of our current house in Upstate New York {where we're stationed at Fort Drum}. Life has been admittedly crazy ever since we moved in last March. Between renovations, Thane going away for training, traveling, having a baby, moving out of state for a couple of months, moving back, sending Thane off to Afghanistan, then moving the boys and I to Virginia right after that, I've barely had time to get our house in order.
In fact, in the eight odd months since first moving in, our dining room is the only room in this house that's finished! {See the 'before' picture here.} I hate to say it, but it's very possible that this will be the only room I'll get to call 'done'. I'm hoping for plenty of time to enjoy this home as a family once the deployment is over, but I'm not going to set my hopes on it. The good old army has it's own agenda, and so does the Lord. {Thank goodness, His plans are always better than mine!}
So, with this in mind, I'm ready to let this house- truly, my dream house- go. If sooner than later, then so be it. Jesus has been changing my heart these past few months concerning temporal, material things. He's helping me to be at peace with the fact that this home he blessed us with may never be perfectly furnished and decorated. And that's probably a good thing...
Because as much as I love art and design and anything remotely aesthetic {I could browse home decor on Pinterest for hours and not get bored} there are things that are much more important and much more deserving of my time. Namely people- my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world who need support- and investing in their lives in ways that impact eternity. Jesus says: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." {Mathew 6:19-20} And thanks to the Holy Spirit and to the wonderful teaching of an inspiring brother in Christ, I'm finally understanding this verse. Ready?
>The PEOPLE He puts in my life ARE the "treasures" that I can store up in Heaven. {Light bulb: ON}<
I can't take my house with me, but I can take people! While God is the One who ultimately chooses and works salvation for His eternal family, I can take His hand and join Him in the process. What an amazing opportunity.
Don't get me wrong, having a nice house isn't something to be condemned. I'll always love decorating and it's certainly not a sin to apply this passion towards making a home that's a comfortable safe haven for my family. But by the grace of God, I'm learning to let go of the need for perfection and I'm learning to "set {my} mind on things above" {Colossians 3:2} and to "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." {Luke 12:15b} And let me tell you, there's so much freedom in that! I've heard it said that we attempt to create our own 'heaven' on earth by putting God on the shelf and following our own priorities. Regretfully, I know I've done this. So, going forward, I want to be consumed by God's work and His will, not my own. I hope I can encourage my sisters in Christ to do the same!
{Jesus said to him}, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." {John 14:6}
