For those of you who may not know, we live in town. Our town is small by most standards (we have around 2,200 people), but it still feels crowded to me. And we now have new neighbors in back of us. They have so much junk! Okay, it’s expensive junk, but it’s junk non-the-less. We used to have a nice, unobstructed view out our living room window. Yes, we could see the other road, but it was still green grass between us and it. Now? Now we see a camper, an ice shack, 2 boats, 2 ATVs (that are in a tent), a trailer, an old pickup, and 2 snowmobiles. And they are as close to our boundary as they can be. I feel so penned in! I’ve never liked living in town, but now I dislike it even more.
I love our house, I really do. The way that God gave us this house is amazing! The previous owners never put a “for sale” sign out or advertised that it was for sale. And yet we were able to buy it anyway. He has enabled us to have the funds to remodel it in the way that we want. This house fits us so nicely. And it is a house we can defiantly grow into. But I would like more land. We have a big house on a tiny lot and not much room for the children to play. Our road is a well traveled one, so I’m always concerned about the children playing out front. Our backyard has some room, but not much. We don’t have a fence, so they wander at times and that concerns me. I don’t like the lack of privacy that you get in town. We have a clothes line and I have never liked the fact that someone could look over and see my “under pinnings” blowing in the breeze.
But in reality, I don’t have much to complain about. Even if I did have much, I shouldn’t complain. For God has been very gracious to us in everything He has given us. The only debt we have is our house, and that’s saying a lot these days. He has given us a house that is not too small for 6+ people. In fact, there room to spare. He has provided my husband with a wonderful job that not only he likes, but pays us well enough we can live on one income quite comfortably. We don’t have much left over at the end of the month, but we’re not in need either. We are able to save for a motor home and we are able to go on vacation.
I’ll be honest: I’d love to live out of town where I can’t see the neighbors junk. But I want to be content. God has us here for a reason. The fact that I’m not loving living in town has not escaped Him. But He has His reasons for where we are right now. I don’t know what they are and I don’t need to know. I want to be able to say, “I’m okay living here” because I mean it, not because it’s something I know I should say. I’m not there yet. I’ve got a long way to go and a lot of praying to do. But I’ll get there. And in the meantime, I’ll grow and learn what He wants me to learn.