"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:21
When I find the race of Raleigh to be a little too much, I often retreat home. Home is where the simple life can be found.....the cows graze in the pasture, supper is on the table at 6, and my bare feet can feel the soft green grass as I run around in the backyard. Life just seems to move at a slightly slower pace at home or maybe its just the simple life that my parents so dearly enjoy that calms my soul.
I remember growing up and the abundance of chores that seemed to employ my weekends. I used to become so annoyed that while my friends were sleeping in, I would be assisting my parents cut wood, fix fences, or picking things out of the garden. By noon, I was exhausted and some of my friends were just getting out of bed. However, today I understand why doing those things were important. Doing those things created a unique bond between my parents and I, but also little did I know the life lessons that I would be taught in the process and how much my heart would truly love my home. My home is where my heart will always be and where my greatest treasures (memories) are found.
"A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple is a full life."- Proverbs 13:7
Whenever I have a rough day, I often will call my mom and let her know I will be there for supper... who am I joking even on those great days I often choose to go home..haha. My mom is a pretty awesome cook and it is true comfort food. As I make the drive, it is amazing how somehow joy seems to fill my heart. The freshly plowed fields combined with the familiarity of a road I have traveled thousands of times reminds me of how great simplicity is. I will arrive home and Mom will show me the greenhouses and garden. As I run around the yard with my dogs chasing me, I am a child again. Then, we will feed up and the beauty of nature is evident in pastures surrounding our house. Mom will cook supper while I catch up on the newspapers that she has saved for me and Dad will walk in the door right as Mom is putting supper on the table. Sometimes I like to surprise Dad and oh how I love the surprise when he walks in and sees me there. Mom probably calls and tells him but he always acts surprised to see me. When one thinks about my parents and their lifestyle, I do not think the adjectives of "pretentious" or "showy" would or will ever be used. They are two people who take pride in their simple, yet full life.
"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God and supremely so toward you." -2 Corinthians 1:12
You know whats so great about the simplicity of the life my parents live.... it's filled with love. My parents have both worked very hard in life and makes me happy to see them happy. They are happy and content with the simple life they live. On a Saturday night, they might go to 220 (little seafood place) or Cracker Barrel and then Mom will "drag" Dad shopping at Tractor Supply or Lowes. Dad acts like he hates shopping, but he always puts things in the cart. On weekends, they enjoy working on the farm together and then will claim they both worked each other too hard. They are some of the most simple, sincere people you could ever meet in my opinion.
I couldn't tell you the last time my mom went to get a manicure or her hair done other than a haircut. One look at my dad's hands and you will see the hard work endured. But what I am most thankful of are the life lessons my parents taught me. When I get caught up in trying to keep up, I am reminded how enjoyable simplicity is.
Luckily, I have a wonderful retreat to remind me of how great simplicity is, but I encourage everyone to find someone or some place that reminds you about the important things in life. At an event yesterday, Dr. Sam Purdue quoted "Choose not to invest in things, but choose to invest in people. The rewards are far greater." How true! I am so thankful that my parents choose to invest in me those values and life lessons. When I look at what gives me the most joy, its not purchasing the new pair of Sevens or a pair of shoes, but its the investments that help others and include time with people. Teaching allows me to invest in people and gives me the utmost happiness.
God invested in each of us, and reminds us that his kingdom of heaven is the reward for a life well lived here on Earth. Our best treasure is His love for us. By displaying sincerity to those individuals we come in contact with and living a simple life that focuses on Him, we will be rewarded with treasures that we could never dream of..
This week, let us all be reminded of the real goals in life that do not include "keeping up" but being content and focusing on faith... patience... and... love for others!
As always thanks for reading! Hope everyone has a great week! Love to you all! `~Joy
When I find the race of Raleigh to be a little too much, I often retreat home. Home is where the simple life can be found.....the cows graze in the pasture, supper is on the table at 6, and my bare feet can feel the soft green grass as I run around in the backyard. Life just seems to move at a slightly slower pace at home or maybe its just the simple life that my parents so dearly enjoy that calms my soul.
I remember growing up and the abundance of chores that seemed to employ my weekends. I used to become so annoyed that while my friends were sleeping in, I would be assisting my parents cut wood, fix fences, or picking things out of the garden. By noon, I was exhausted and some of my friends were just getting out of bed. However, today I understand why doing those things were important. Doing those things created a unique bond between my parents and I, but also little did I know the life lessons that I would be taught in the process and how much my heart would truly love my home. My home is where my heart will always be and where my greatest treasures (memories) are found.
"A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple is a full life."- Proverbs 13:7
Whenever I have a rough day, I often will call my mom and let her know I will be there for supper... who am I joking even on those great days I often choose to go home..haha. My mom is a pretty awesome cook and it is true comfort food. As I make the drive, it is amazing how somehow joy seems to fill my heart. The freshly plowed fields combined with the familiarity of a road I have traveled thousands of times reminds me of how great simplicity is. I will arrive home and Mom will show me the greenhouses and garden. As I run around the yard with my dogs chasing me, I am a child again. Then, we will feed up and the beauty of nature is evident in pastures surrounding our house. Mom will cook supper while I catch up on the newspapers that she has saved for me and Dad will walk in the door right as Mom is putting supper on the table. Sometimes I like to surprise Dad and oh how I love the surprise when he walks in and sees me there. Mom probably calls and tells him but he always acts surprised to see me. When one thinks about my parents and their lifestyle, I do not think the adjectives of "pretentious" or "showy" would or will ever be used. They are two people who take pride in their simple, yet full life.
"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God and supremely so toward you." -2 Corinthians 1:12
You know whats so great about the simplicity of the life my parents live.... it's filled with love. My parents have both worked very hard in life and makes me happy to see them happy. They are happy and content with the simple life they live. On a Saturday night, they might go to 220 (little seafood place) or Cracker Barrel and then Mom will "drag" Dad shopping at Tractor Supply or Lowes. Dad acts like he hates shopping, but he always puts things in the cart. On weekends, they enjoy working on the farm together and then will claim they both worked each other too hard. They are some of the most simple, sincere people you could ever meet in my opinion.
I couldn't tell you the last time my mom went to get a manicure or her hair done other than a haircut. One look at my dad's hands and you will see the hard work endured. But what I am most thankful of are the life lessons my parents taught me. When I get caught up in trying to keep up, I am reminded how enjoyable simplicity is.
Luckily, I have a wonderful retreat to remind me of how great simplicity is, but I encourage everyone to find someone or some place that reminds you about the important things in life. At an event yesterday, Dr. Sam Purdue quoted "Choose not to invest in things, but choose to invest in people. The rewards are far greater." How true! I am so thankful that my parents choose to invest in me those values and life lessons. When I look at what gives me the most joy, its not purchasing the new pair of Sevens or a pair of shoes, but its the investments that help others and include time with people. Teaching allows me to invest in people and gives me the utmost happiness.
God invested in each of us, and reminds us that his kingdom of heaven is the reward for a life well lived here on Earth. Our best treasure is His love for us. By displaying sincerity to those individuals we come in contact with and living a simple life that focuses on Him, we will be rewarded with treasures that we could never dream of..
This week, let us all be reminded of the real goals in life that do not include "keeping up" but being content and focusing on faith... patience... and... love for others!
As always thanks for reading! Hope everyone has a great week! Love to you all! `~Joy