My BFTKC friend recently
pointed out that it isn't nice to start a series on your blog and not follow through... So I thought I'd let you know that I have every intention of following through on
my series about contentment. I am just doing some more field research, you know, so I can give more accurate and practical advice on how to have a quiet heart.
When I told dad my great idea to live in a travel trailer he laughed. I couldn't possibly have been serious, right? Well, my idea was to live in a trailer for a year. (In the beginning I wouldn't even call it a trailer. I preferred to call it something more much more refined. Like RV, so it sounded more like a vacation home than trailer trash, but I am so over that. I totally live in a trailer and I have junk in my yard to prove it.)
We have had an amazing time in this trailer. We have grown so close as a family. Our lives have changed completely. I know we will refer back to this time over and again for the rest of our lives. I can already hear my children telling their children "We had the best time the year we lived in the travel trailer, we learned..."
But.
A year came.
A year went.
We aren't too far off from a year and a half.
And there is no end in sight.
I read an article some time ago about how most Americans wash the outside of their body at least once a day, sometimes even twice, but almost never wash the inside. That was true of my family, the only time we spent in the Word was on Sunday mornings. Not any more. Nope. We wash in the Word every morning and every evening and usually once or twice more during our school day. And we no longer shower every day. Not even every other day. (Yes, that is what you were smelling, lol) I never knew I could be so blessed by being stinky. HA! I digress.
Back to the point. We hit a year in July. It didn't make any sense to move out of the trailer at a year we were supposed to be outta here in October. It's closing in on December. It's cold. (Not today, today feels like I'm in the Amazon) It is wet.
My Pickles are frozen again. I have no running hot water. The roof leaks onto my "closet/dirty laundry room/storage room" I want to take a shower and I'm not even talking every day. Every other day would be quite nice. I want a bed I can walk around instead of crawling over. I would like to bake bread in an oven instead of contorting a bread pan to fit inside a crock pot and guessing how many hours it will take to bake.
Dad is set to get his selection about a day or so before he gets his Wings of Gold (as long as nothing unforeseen happens). That is sometime during the week before Christmas (they have already changed the date a time or two) and in that we only find out
where we are going. We won't find out when we have to be there until a week before we have to be there. We could have to be there before Christmas. Or we could have to be there in February. But we won't know until it's time to pack and leave.
So today we decided we
are going to decorate for Christmas. So I have to go to the storage unit and dig for the decorations box that I smartly buried in the back because we were going to be outta here in October. I have no idea where our cold weather clothes are located. I am thankful for our friends who have graciously blessed us with some warm dresses for my girls for the days it dropped below freezing.
I have learned more than I could ever post here. I will cherish this time forever. I am not complaining.
But I wasn't prepared to spend another cold, wet, yucky winter in this
tiny little tin can humble home.
So, I am practicing Contentment. I am trying to focus on the blessings of this home. I am keeping very busy with school, healthy eating without an oven or stove and with a refrigerator that is actually a freezer, planning a celebration for Dad's winging, and preparing for Christmas. Christmas that might be in Mississippi in a trailer or somewhere else in this Great Country in a trailer or house. Do not feel sorry for me. I am not complaining. I am growing, stretching, learning. I am being made flexible, pliable, teachable. And I am rejoicing in the growth of my children, my husband and myself. Thankful for all we have been blessed with. God is good.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. ~Amen. Philippians 4:4-20
