What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or
forfeit his very self?
(Luke 9:25 NIV)
Lately my five year old, Emily, has been caught up in the show I grew up on, “Little House on The Prairie”. Since we have tivo, and it comes on like 5 times a day on “Hallmark”, she gets to watch it whenever she fancies. (A lot more wholesome than Disney channel, I must say) Why the new interest? Because we have been watching Hallmark’s series, directed coincidentally by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly. (Based on the Janette Oak series) They are also about Prairie days with even more emphasis than “Little House” of God and His perfect provision. There are five total movies thus far, and more to come. I am not sure how many books there are, but I am planning on checking them out.
In watching these shows it has brought a renewed thought as to what is important. In one movie the main character,”Missie”, adopts a girl and tells her “I can’t afford to buy you nice store bought dolls, but I can give you a loving home” Wow! How different our culture a hundred and fifty years later. We would be depriving our daughter if she did not have these things today.
Monday we went to Callaway Gardens . They have an actual log cabin built in this time period. We took Emily to check it out. She thought it was like a big play house. It took less than 10 steps from the front door to the back. A bed in the corner with a fireplace and dinner table. We literally could have fit this thing in our house 3 times, and we have a moderately sized three bedroom/two bathroom home.
Why am I telling you all this? Well simply because I believe we have lost the art of simplicity. The number one cause of divorce is money trouble, the rate of Bankruptcy and foreclosures are on an increasingly fast rise, and yet the houses being built are bigger and more expensive everyday. (As are the cars) I have, as much as the next person, been caught in the cycle of wanting more home, wanting the nicer things for my children, and wanting more money. I remember thinking only a few years ago if we could only make 10,000 more a year than we made then we would be doing great! Since then we have more than doubled our income, and still think “If we could only make X amount of dollars we would be doing great!”
God has begun making it real to me, as I see foreclosures all around me and divorces left and right, that we need to get off the “American Dream Merry-go-Round”. While our great-great-great grandfathers and mothers worked and lived this way so that we could have a better life, I think the idea was so that we would be able to enjoy the better life.
I, as much as the next person, enjoy all the modern conveniences that we are privy to. (I know of a missionary couple that is currently living in a tent for about a year now with their family. I have no desire, or call, to that) There is nothing wrong with having nice things, or having money. I just feel that what God is showing me right now is what good is it if I attain the huge home and all the things we all desire but loose the love of my life, and my children? Happiness is in the size of our heart (our love) not in the size of our home.
(Hallmark’s Love Comes Softly series can be rented at any rental place. We did from Netflix, or you can also read the books by Janette Oak.)
It’s so true. I remember growing up on Little House…too. My daughter doesn’t love it as much as I did but she sure loves Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. I think the saddest thing about all our getting is the beauty of what we’re losing.
Hugs,
Holly
I so agree with you on this angel. My husband and I have these conversations a lot. It is like pastor said simplify our life. It is so important. We live in a society of the “wants” and “never enough” and “the right nows”, and I cannot stay that. We are teaching our children to be content with what you have and to thank God for everything he has given you. And, this a reminder to ourselves as parents too. Because, I do admit of getting carried away sometimes of “wants”. But then I am reminded of the things I do have and thank God for his provision for me and my family.