I sat there sewing the ripped parts of my husbands worn down blue jeans. Worn from all the hard labor he does while wearing them. We can buy new ones, and eventually we will need to. But for now, it’s nothing that a little thread can’t fix. The other day I went shopping at a local thrift store and bought myself some ‘new to me’ clothes. They may not have actually been new, but I like the way they looked none the less. There are many things in my house that were used before they become ours. My stove is who knows how many years old. The beautiful paintings on our walls were bought from antique or thrift stores. Some things I bought used from people online. Our house is an older home; filled with character and built solidly with love. Our house is also filled with hand me downs and heirlooms. Though we do buy things new, we try to make the most of what we have, live within our means, and see used things still as treasures. There is nothing wrong with having new things. Though if we are not careful, we can all too easily be caught up in the material world and the mindset that new or certain brands are better. So much so, where we can lose sight on the things we already have or live beyond our means. Things are nice, some things are necessities. Though new is not always better. May in our pursuit to want to better our lives, we appreciate all that we have, all that God has blessed us with. May we not live beyond what we have, then blame God when we’re broke. Friend, we have so many things more than we realize. We cannot take them with us when we go. Though things may be wanted, and many things are needed, for different reasons, may we not get caught in the vanity of it. I had finished sewing my husband’s pants, good as new, well, mostly. He was happy with it and his pants will last for a while longer. We sure are very grateful to God for it all; with everything that He gives, and all that He provides.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Grateful for it all

Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Proverbs 30:8 NIV

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Luke 12:15 NIV

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

1 John 2:15 NIV

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Psalm 103:2 NIV

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—