Feeling Blest is Best

By Nancy Canwell

We recently marked the sixth anniversary of moving into our duplex. We originally planned on living here for only a few months. We’d been renting a spacious, remodeled house with a beautiful view of the Blue Mountains.
Unfortunately, the owners had to sell unexpectedly, and we had thirty days to find a new place. We found a newer, bright and cheery duplex, so we decided to rent it until we found a bigger house. And we’re still here.

The problem with our duplex is this: it’s small. Very small. Eight-hundred square feet small. When it looked like we’d be living here for a while, I knew I had a choice to make. I could complain and fuss about our circumstances, or I could accept the fact and make this house our home.

I decided to make the better choice. I didn’t want to someday look back on our time here and find that I’d wasted years that could have built good memories. So, we still have families over for dinner, even though we lack a formal dining room. We still put up a large Christmas tree and find places for every decoration. We still have family come for visits, spreading cousins in sleeping bags across the floor. Our daughter still had a dozen kids here for her last birthday party, filling our home with laughter.

It wasn’t easy—learning to be content in such a small place. I’ve struggled and felt sorry for myself at times.

What forever changed my view of this little place was my husband’s mission trip to Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami. He brought back dozens of pictures and video footage of people who’d lost their homes. Some pictures showed families standing on their house’s bare tile floors—the only thing left that hadn’t been swept away. Others had placed flags where they thought their homes had been, reclaiming only their land. Looking at the pictures, I felt guilty…. Our warm, cozy home looked pretty good in comparison.

I’m learning that I can find many things to be dissatisfied with in life: my job doesn’t pay enough; my car is an older model and not a new SUV; there’s little money left after paying the monthly bills; I may wish I had a boat like the neighbor’s….. The list could go on and on. The problem is, the more I complain the less I feel blest.

Paul gave us the key to contentment when he said in Philippians 4:12 and 13: “I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Paul doesn’t say he’s thrilled about every situation, or happy about every outcome. But, he had learned to be content through the strength God gave him.

The choice is ours: complain, or be content. I’m choosing contentment. I don’t want to waste a single day complaining. I can’t get that day back.

Nancy Canwell writes from College Place, Washington.