Every so often I hit this place of looking around me and taking stock of everything that is off kilter, and I stop living joyfully. My current thief of joy is the state of my home.
The cat has shredded my leather furniture. It has become her scratching post when we aren’t looking, and sometimes when we are. I’m watching you, kitty!
Our walls need a new coat of paint, and truth be told the first coat of paint was never completed. There are little holes in our walls here and there from living, or I should say our children’s idea of living.
Our fabric dining room chairs have been ruined by spills. Sometimes I have that, “I can’t have anything nice!” moment. You know the one.
There are so many minor things that need attention. And where is this time to devote towards making changes? Not to mention the money it costs to do it.
I just want a clean slate sometimes. I want to toss all the things, and start over.
As life has it, there are always those little moments of remembering what really matters. That there are joys all around us if we have the eyes to see them. I need to train my eyes to see past tatters, tears, marred walls, and cramped spaces.
I will endeavor to deal with clutter, and make changes where I can. But, I know the real enemy is the clutter of the heart, that tends to measure blessings with the world’s cup.
If I had a bigger house… If I had couches that were not torn… If I could paint the walls…
These things are nice, but do they bring the happy? Momentarily, perhaps.
I’d much rather fulfillment than happy. I’d much rather moments than things.
These I have in abundance.
The tatters, and tears are signs of life lived. Of learning within our walls. Of loving God’s creatures. Of the fleeting years with the three greatest possessions we have been given.
It’s not about perfect.
THIS was the post I needed to read today. Thanks Kim for all that wisdom in one little post. That photo is full of charm!
kerry b recently posted..Little Things Thursday…Sneaking Behind the Girls
Oh yes, I have had the “everything is falling apart moments”, but seriously after almost 20 years the family room furniture is falling apart, the springs on my couch are sagging on the floor, haha! Mostly the state of my house is just a mess because I am out tending to life, but every now and again the dust bunnies start to scare me, especially when they start making shadows on the walls, hehe!
Kim Stevens recently posted..A Bee-autiful world . . .
I agree it´s important to enjoy what we DO have and not always long for other things, to remind ourselves of what we have is a good thing. Dreaming is OK as well though.
tinajo recently posted..Friday again
Beautifully put. There is splendor all around us, but it sometimes gets lost in the grunge, for sure. I had a friend recently tell me how she grieved to pack up the train tracks her boys had used for many years, although she always felt frustrated with having them underfoot. That has helped me refocus on the boy who loves the train tracks and not the clutter they cause- the years are short!
I have those moments too. I actually am so grateful for this snow day because by midweek I felt my apartment was just in a state of disarray and plan to scrub the place down today…
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Beautiful!
Danelle recently posted..SIMPLE SAMOAS BARS
GREAT post. I am so thankful to hear you speak of what matters most. BTW your home is beautiful. Those things you see aren’t seen by others. I’ve told you this I know. Your post was a reminder to me to look at my current circumstances (double triple stress and obligation) through a lens of thankfulness and to consider the weight of “what matters most”.
So much wisdom in this post! I, too, have those times when I get frustrated about the state of furniture or clutter or toys scattered about. Or that no one else seems to know how to clean up after themselves. This is a great reminder to cherish those lives we are molding. Those little joys we have each and every day that we are sometimes to busy to notice. And that perhaps the goal of new furniture or a spotless house is the wrong goal to have.
Kimberly recently posted..The Great Kitchen Remodel
So perfectly said!!! It’s easy at times to start seeing all the things that are imperfect & if you are not careful it can consume you. Then something happens that jolts you back to the important things & those imperfect things then become the things you are most grateful for. It’s all a matter of perspective and it’s good that you & others are able to gain that. There are some people out there that never see it & it’s so sad.
You have so many blessings my friend- praying that the Lord’s Grace continues to flow over you & your family!
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Great post! I frequently need the reminder to focus on the important things in life, and not let the little things steal my joy. Lovely photo, too!
Stephanie recently posted..Passing it Down
you know ~ I do know and you know what else. . . I needed this today. I’m going to keep these thoughts for a while (( “The tatters, and tears are signs of life lived.” )) because you know what? it’s true!
Thank God we have signs of life lived. I’m off to embrace my dirty dishes, ripped chairs, smudged walls and laundry piled high. 
after I hit the follower button on your blog. Wonderful Post! 
Lisa@Advent’s Adventures recently posted..Me and my Nikon D5000
What a beautiful post and I couldn’t agree more! I’m still trying to train my eye to see past the clutter and chaos to the BIGGER picture which are my loved ones! I am so lucky to have the people I have in my life and this I will never forget
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“I’d rather have moments than things.” I love that. Me too. And BTW, I have one ripped sofa and one with a growing assortment of stains. But we have a lot of fun.
Dana recently posted..Godly Parenting May Be Different Than You Think
Things come and go, the little moments that is what really counts. Giving thanks for all that we have only expands our world to make room for better things to come.
So, so, so true. What a great post. I feel the exact same way……
From one who is now “looking back” over those early years…I can say that you have NAILED it! I always loved having the house where things didn’t matter and kids (mine and others!) could be messy……it all adds up to lots of loving memories…..and you can crop the tatters out of all the photos!
Adrienne recently posted..More Week End Wandering
Oh Kim, this is so beautifully written! I often feel the same way. In fact, I have avoided entertaining for years because of it. But I am so thankful for the life we have. Really it is such a blessing to be home with my kids to enjoy those messy life moments…even when they make me momentarily a little crazy. Ha ha!
Beautiful post my friend! Thank you for sharing.
Serendipity is Sweet recently posted..Friday Photo Journal – Week 10
Very beautifully written, Kim. I look around our home and sometimes I wish this and I wish that, but at the end of the day, those things are “nice-to-haves.” I don’t “need” them. I have everything I need. The things that really count.
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