As I shared earlier this week, I've struggled a time or two with the “if only's” in my life. Recently my sweet neighbor (and fellow penny pincher!) asked me what we would do when our youngest “grew out” of her bedroom. You see, when Reagan was born, our guest bedroom was on the main floor of our home, and I wasn't willing to have a baby (or our older children) downstairs while the rest of the family's bedrooms were upstairs. We did have an oversized playroom though on the second floor of our home, so my husband and his dad spent hours splitting off a very tiny but perfectly sweet room for our little girl.
It is tiny though. (Teeny tiny.) And my neighbor (who meant absolutely no offense at all!), said what I know quite a few people have thought as they've looked around the small space that's Reagan's room. (It literally holds her tiny bed up against a huge window, plus a small dresser. . . and that's it . . . hardly any room for toys or anything at all!) I guess maybe I've considered it a time or two also, but it really seems to suit her just fine. And as none of my kids have ever been ones to hang out in their bedrooms (ever), I think she'll probably stay there . . . quite possibly all the way through college . . . or at least until she can kick her big brother out!
Here's what I'm trying to remind myself though (which is so hard to remember some days!): If the worst thing in Reagan's life is that she grows up in a smaller bedroom than her brother and sister, I'm betting she'll make it. It's so easy to think that in order for our children to live fully they need everything that everyone else has, especially in a society where so many (myself included!), live with complete abundance. However, if you've met Reagan, you know that the child lacks for just about nothing else in this ole' world, so a tiny bedroom might help keep her oversized-ego in check!
You know what's funny about that tiny room? When snow is in the forecast (which doesn't come nearly often enough here in North Alabama . . .) my kids all run up to Reagan's room, so that we can snuggle up under the covers in her bed while looking out her window and hoping to see a glimpse of falling snow. And, when it's time to read, Reagan's bedroom is just the perfect spot . . . despite maybe because of it's diminuitive proportions!
The moral of the story? (Umm. . . . if there really is one . . .) Don't get discouraged if your budget doesn't allow for the bigger and better things that others may have. (Can you remind me of this one please, too?) And, even if your budget can afford it, your kiddos don't necessarily need all that stuff anyways . . . especially when there are so many who can be blessed when we choose sometimes to give to others rather than our own. Don't get me wrong, my children have plenty, but I would love to teach them somewhere along the way it's better to give than to receive.
Do you know what Reagan prayed for last night up in that sweet little bed of hers? That “all the people who don't have food would get some.” Maybe she'll figure out what really does matter long before her momma ever did. 🙂
You can see more of Reagan's tiny room and how we fluffed it up not too long ago. When it's clean (ahem,) it's my favorite spot in the house!
Do you have any tips on how to feel content with whatever you have? I'd love to hear them in the comments section!
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