I picked up a book at a sale. It’s one I would have paid full price for several years ago, but I decided to be frugal and I passed it by. Imagine my delight to get it for a dollar in like-new condition! It’s called “Mega-Cooking” by Jill Bond. While I’ve been pouring over her ideas and suggestions for putting away meals in the freezer for those days when I don’t feel like cooking, I came across a comment that just jumped off the page. I’ve been mulling it over and decided to share it with you here. Here’s what she said:

“Don’t bemoan what you do have. Don’t covet what you don’t have. Just get on with it. That sounds good and easy, but I know it is work for some of us. Our attitude is our biggest problem.
What did me a world of good was to live in a third-world country for two years. Alan was stationed in the Republic of Panama. When I saw how whole families lived in refrigerator boxes and my maid could feed her family off of my throw-aways, I soon realized how rich and spoiled I was.”

I’ve been thinking about all the things that we think we must have in order to live happy, fulfilled lives. For some of us that might be air conditioning during these hot summer months. Others might think they must have certain housing conditions, certain foods, certain creams or soaps or lotions, certain haircuts, or certain friends in order to really even be at their minimum comfort level. However, it’s just not true! We can make do with so much less than what we have, and we can do it with a cheerful heart and a grateful spirit.

So you don’t have air conditioning and it’s 100 degrees outside? What are you going to do about it? Sit and moan and complain and drive around in your car so you can have cold air blasted on you? Or can you be creative in your ways of keeping cool? You can rest during the hottest part of the day. You can sit outside in the shade. You can play in water with the kids. You can use your brains to figure out ways to work with and around the heat.

So you don’t have money in the budget for the newest clothes and shoes? That’s ok. Wear what you have. Wear it with gratitude in your heart. Check out second-hand stores. Be willing to accept hand-me-downs from friends who are cleaning out their closets. And most of all, realize that there are more important things in life than the latest fashions.

So your house isn’t in the up-and-coming neighborhood in town? You live among people that make you nervous? You hear things through your windows that you wish you could shut out? Consider why God has placed you in this neighborhood. Take a second look at your neighbors and see the good things you’ve been too busy complaining to notice. Take a second look at your house while you’re at it. Does living where you are enable you to save money for other things? Does your humble home hold many precious memories for you? Can you find ways to live more efficiently and with less clutter?

One more thing. Do you find yourself getting frustrated with the children milling all over your house? Has God given you more than you think you can handle? Do you wish that God wouldn’t be quite so generous in sending along these “blessings”? Well, consider just for a moment the women you know who would love to have a child. They pray and beg God to open their womb and allow them to bear a child who will suckle at their breast. Other women wonder why God only allowed them to have one or two children. Every month they wish that God would allow them to have just one more child to hold in their arms. So, take a deep breath. Take another look at these children. Notice those chubby hands, those curious faces, those sweet high childish little-boy voices that all too soon will be deep and rumbling. Kiss those baby toes before they grow into big hairy stinky teenager toes.

And to the women who have a quieter house, find God’s gift in that as well. You have a freedom that is not granted to women with many small children. You can rest and explore and serve God in ways that other women envy.

It’s so easy and tempting to constantly be wishing for the next thing and to take the next step up. It’s in our nature to desire perfection. God made us to live in Paradise, so it’s hard to be content where we are. Someday we will join Him again and live in the perfect environment. Until then, we can find the beauty right where we are. We can be grateful for every little thing. We can take joy in the little luxuries that come our way. We can make do and be creative with what we are given right now.

Join me today as I look around and find lots of things to thank God for!