Stuff Peace

Stuff. 

We all have it. 

We all want it. 

What is the main reason I have an ungrateful heart?

Stuff. 

Specifically...these two kinds of stuff:

Stuff I don't have. 

Stuff I do have. 

Just can't win, right??

#1: Coveted stuff. 

Wanting what someone else has. 

Not to steal, but to have one of my very own. 

I always seem to like other people's stuff more than my own. 

The grass is always greener it seems. 

After my husband and I took a serious look at our finances, I had to take a serious look at my heart and my intentions for buying things. Was I buying out of need? Or want?

As we headed toward financial security and self-sufficiency, we had to take a few hits to our pride. We didn't need the "new, best, coolest". We had to stop before we bought something and ask "Is it in the budget?" If the answer was "No", then we had to wait and save up.

(Ugh, waiting is the WORST!)

Knowing our true intention saved us from impulse spending. And also brought to light an ungrateful mess in my own attitude. 

Why?? 

Why do I want this thing?

Usually the answer was/is "_______ says it's awesome!"

Or

"I saw _______ use this and it looked like it worked really well!"

Someone else...

They have, I don't...

What I SHOULD be asking is:

"Can I do without this?"

"How can I make my own?"

Financial security and self sufficiency can be a bit humbling. Ok, more than a bit. REALLY humbling.

 Driving cars that aren't shiny or new. Living in homes that aren't modern or chic. Wearing clothes that are handmade or thrift store purchased. All of these things can test a person's character in the merry ol Land of New and Now. 

Okay. 

*deep breath*

#2: Cluttered STUFF

I see clutter in the house and I immediately think "CHAOS". But that's not always the case. And I often forget that, sometimes, clutter has purpose. 

My ungratefulness for my husband's skills rears it's ugly head when I, like a purging tornado, tear through the house grumbling about all of our STUFF! Throwing things away or organizing in a rage.

Ironic, right. 

First I don't have enough, now I have too much. 

It's not the clutter that bothers me as much as how it makes my house look. I used to think I wanted to be a minimalist. But then, I realized minimalists must have everything outsourced or done professionally. 

Collecting things that help establish self sufficiency can cause...clutter. 

 Ugh, clutter. 

 I sometimes watch "Hoarders" so I feel better about certain areas if my house. 

Clutter can make a girl go nutsy, am right?!? I see articles on the World Wide Wonderful about how clutter can increase stress. (And then I see it's right next to a billion other articles about: 19 Ways I'm Failing my Kids, 39 Ways Someone Else is Better, 45 Ways my Cat can Climb a Tree, and other worthless articles, and I feel a little better. The internet can be good but, man, can it be worthless. And make you feel worthless in the process) 

More often than not, the stuff that clutters our house has use and purpose. My eyes only see chaos, and I end up with an ungrateful heart. 

Hunting for our food means having hunting things. 

Tapping our own trees for sap means having buckets, old water jugs, and miscellaneous supplies around. 

Sewing, pottery, cooking, plumbing, electrical work, mechanical work...all of these things have "stuff" attached to them. 

When a minimalist sees our house, I'm pretty sure something inside of them curls up and dies. 

The clutter comes and sticks around. But, I have realized I need to remind myself it's not useless, it's actually helpful. All of the clutter (most of it) helps us maintain our budget and do things ourselves. This keeps the purge urge at bay.  

This road to humility that I'm on is long, bumpy, and cluttered, folks. 

I want to be grateful for the resources we have and use them wisely. Not coveting what others have or overlooking the important things. 

We live a different life than a lot of people and I love the way we live!!!  

The buying of new things, the shell of our house, the shine of our cars, nor the organization of our clutter can establish who I am inside. I need to be reminded of that...often.

I want to greet guests with hot tea on a cold day and not worry about the pile of hunting clothes by the front door ;)

I want to talk with friends on my very mismatched couches and get to know them better. 

I want people to ask, "Why do you have empty two liter bottles with wires on them?", so I can give them a sample of our syrup. 

I want gratefulness to come with ease. 

I guess I want a lot of things in life, but most of all, I want to learn to love others without hesitation. Humbly and graciously. 

Wishing everyone out there Stuff Peace and...HAIR PEACE!!!