Embracing where I'm at...

{my view while washing dishes}

I'm not gonna lie. I've been fighting a bad attitude for weeks now. My perspective has been about as fuzzy as parts of the picture above. Let me start this story at the beginning.

Where we used to live was a small town that was primarily middle to lower class. I mean, I felt down right highfalutin when I walked into Wal-Mart. Any of y'all that know me in real life, know that can't be further from the truth. I am very much down to earth{when my head's not in the clouds} and casual. The city I now live in is very much the opposite. The main area, if you will, has a ginormous neighborhood with subdivisions consisting of McMansions within itself. Whatever...I was fine when we moved here, having lived in this very house before. That was all before my children went to the local public school...

I take my children and pick them back up from school. I am usually surrounded by Lexus{Lexi-??}, Mercedes, Lincoln's, etc. Normally I'm not a car person, but considering I'm driving an older Plymouth Grand Voyager that is missing 2 hubcaps and the front bumper is held up with zip ties...well, it just feels funny.

I've shared my feelings with a few close friends. One said to me something a friend of her's said to her, "The clothes do not make me, I make the clothes." I thought that was a fabulous quote!! One day as I was sitting in carpool behind, no lie, a Mercedes, a Lexus, and another Mercedes, I quoted to myself, "My car does not make me, I make my car." Then, wouldn't you know it, I had an epiphany!!! It occurred to me, that perhaps these people had insecurities, too. Insecurities, that perhaps wouldn't let them just drive a Toyota, because after all, isn't a Lexus just an expensive Toyota?? Now, I'm not trying to be judgmental in the least if you do drive a "fancy" vehicle. Ever since then though, I haven't felt nearly as embarrassed about what I drive.

I love my little home and I am so thankful for it. I do try to keep that in perspective when I think about the friends my children are making. Most of my children's friends do live in that neighborhood and when I think of birthday parties or future sleepovers, I start to think about the differences in our homes. "Will they think less of us because our home could fit into a small portion of their's??" "What will they think when they drive up and see flaky, peeling paint??" "What will they..." Who cares?? I am so drawn to sweet, older homes and I just want to remain authentic and true to myself. I don't wish to live in a large home. We did live in a big to us home and I couldn't keep it clean!! Why I let the thought of what someone may think bother me, I don't know. I have had to pray to ask God to help me be more thankful for what I do have and less bothered by what I don't, and it has worked!! I sometimes have to ask daily, and to also ask forgiveness for my bad attitude. I seek to "be content in all circumstances" as Paul learned to be. I also keep in mind the quote that Ashley Ann shared, "Comparison is a thief of joy." That is the truth.

Tonight, while washing dishes, I had to get my attitude in check again. I was looking thru what was originally the kitchen window, back into what we so cleverly call "the back room" and was overtaken by how much I really do like this house. Its a great reflection of us. Its not a show home and that is totally okay. It really is. And that is a lovely thing...

Linking up to Life Made Lovely...