A Simple Life

"that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you," - 1 Thessalonians 4:11

This post has honestly taken me a couple of weeks to write. Things have been busy, all while I've been thinking about 1 Thessalonians 4:11. This verse is such a great reminder that we need to take the time to slow down and enjoy the life we have been given. We need to remember what is important, and let go of the things that are not.

It is important that we remember to take time and live our lives, not focus on what others have. Each of us has been gifted something special to bring to this world, and we can't do that if we are striving to be someone else, or live like someone else. We cannot flourish when our focus is on the things that do not matter.

Over the past two weeks, we were able to enjoy family time at our fair, spend time at a county fair nearby, and also just take time to spend with each other. My daughter and I enjoyed time at my family reunion, and it was a breath of fresh air to watch her play freely with all of the younger cousins, as I got to enjoy talking to the adults. This is something she's never really been able to do, and I loved seeing her experience what I did at reunions as a child.

I'm just going to close with this... It is easy to be tempted to want things in life that others have and you may not, but often you realize that you don't truly want them when you take a step back and reflect on what you do have. I joke every once in a while about wanting a brand new vehicle someday, instead of getting used ones. While this is something many people do, it's something I have never done. Each of my vehicles has been purchased used, and each has worked out well for me. So for me, yes I get a twinge every so often when I see someone in their shiny new ride, but quickly try to remind myself that my ride is perfect for what we need it for. Wishful thinking and greed do no good, but reflecting and seeing the gifts in what we have shines a whole new light upon them.