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One day Emory came through the back door grinning. "You know, it cost me about thirty-five dollars to put the floors on both of our new porches, and I've walked across them hundreds of times. Those "sawmill reject" boards have gotten me to where I was going just as well as if I had spent hundreds of dollars for gold plated ones. Either way, I'd still be the same person inside.
I had to laugh because what he said expressed perfectly our whole perception of life, but it took us years to come to this understanding. We have learned to K.I.S.S.--keep it super simple--because that is what Jesus taught. Matthew 6:19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there WILL your heart be also. Luke 12:15: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
Like most folks we were caught up in the hassle of getting together as much of this world's goods as possible, and we were miserable. We were never quite satisfied, we worried about the safety of our possessions, and we were so married to our stuff that we had little time for anything else. Then God spoke to us loud and clear that we were hiding among our stuff and neglecting the more important things. Things like more money to invest in the kingdom, more time to pray and read His word, more freedom to spend time with family and friends and time to sow into the lives of those who crossed our paths.
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Now we live in a small house filled with used, inexpensive or home made furniture, drive a quality vehicle, eat a simple diet and have a very small wardrobe. When we shop we ask ourselves these questions: Is it necessary or frivolous? Is it quality as opposed to luxury? Is it low maintenance and relatively worry free? If we can answer yes to all three questions, we buy.
So, dear friends, you know your family's needs best, but if you are feeling stressed out because your life is consumed with gathering more stuff, maintaining what you have, or worrying about protecting it, perhaps you might learn to K.I.S.S. You'll never be sorry if you do.--Rebecca Somoskey
