Thursday, December 8, 2011

let me know that you love me, let that be enough

this is the shed behind my house. it stores robert's motorcycle, a few lawn care items, and an old dog carrier. for a few blissful weeks last may, it was a makeshift home for four kittens i found. the old door handle is worn and rusty. this morning, dew was clinging to its siding. a tall strand of ivy is creeping up its back door, curling it way back to the concrete steps.

but at one time, about seventy years ago, this was a house. a teeny abode for two newlyweds. a few years later, they built the little brick cottage we now call home. it was two rooms. in the middle of the country flanked by cornfields and newly paved roads. shielded by pin oaks and cushioned by blueberry bushes.

whenever this world gets to be too much, whenever i think about the christmas list in my purse, bloggers who go on fabulous trips to europe, and the new boots in the window at the mall, i remember this shed. for its simplicity and smallness. perfect in its absolute minute way.

and if home can found in a garage, i do believe it can be anywhere. i'm learning to embrace that. and the idea that two rooms can be enough. very little can be enough. almost everything i have or think i need is too much. humans are simple creatures, when it comes down to it. love and food are necessities, the base and the roots of the tree. the rest are just ornaments, hanging and embellishing but never enough to stand, to complete, on their own.

24 comments:

Jennifer Rod said...

I loved this line: "i'm learning to embrace that. and the idea that two rooms can be enough. very little can be enough." well said!

Suz Johnson-Simpson said...

And according to my papaw, Mamaw Sue made marvelous creations in her tiny kitchen. Their "garage apartment" was a happy place; it was the first home of their cherished baby girl, Sandra Gaye. Your cottage was built because that precious little girl asked her daddy where the front porch was, because she wanted to rock her baby doll...

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

i love the story behind your house...great post!!

Lauren Quinn O'Neill said...

It is amazing how much I resonate with this post. It really touched me, thank you :)

Unknown said...

This is so true and you writing is amazing...it has really struck a chord with me. I try and remember this all the time that all I need is love and the basics to survive...but it is funny how hard that is sometimes.

Unknown said...

so true - sometimes we let ourself the things we need are more than just the basics, when really, they aren't :)
thanks for the perspective :)
love,
elisabeth
http://lavitaebella-elisabeth.blogspot.com/

Gentri said...

You are amazing. This is amazing. Wow. I love this so much. Thank you.

Unknown said...

There is so much to take from this post! Beautiful!

Cara-Mia said...

This gives a good perspective. I've been complaining a bit because my fiance doesn't think we can afford a two bedroom apartment and wants to get only one. I own so many things, I couldn't possibly fit in just room. It's time to downsize. You're right that everything else is just extra. I need to keep reminding myself of this post when I am feeling like that again.

grace said...

beautiful stance, yet one that is so hard to hold onto when consumerism is the flood around us.
contentment. mmm.

SymbioticLife said...

A great mental space to hold on to. I love looking at things but not owning them. Life doesn't need all that much. At least, mine doesn't.

jessica said...

What a beautiful story. I love your outlook on life. It's so amazing whenever we can see the beauty in the simple things that we have rather than the lavish things that we want. Simple things are so much better. :)

Southhamsdarling said...

Loved the story of how your shed used to be a house. I love the little door and the canopy. It's so lovely to be able to see the wonder in the simple things of life. Hugs to you.

Whim Wham Life said...

What a beautifully simplistic thought:-) Content. I love it. xoxo

erika said...

Thank you for this lovely reminder.

Emma Frances said...

Once again, your writing is beautiful. And I love this message. It's definitely something that we all need to remember this Christmas season.

... said...

Contentment. Not so easy, but something I try to constantly achieve!

Unknown said...

This is so beautiful. I've been trying to teach my students that little is enough and it has been so hard to convey in words. You have done just that. :)

Kaylia Payne said...

This is so beautiful. It wasn't until I moved out with my husband into our teeny tiny one bedroom apartment that I realised how little material objects and big fancy houses mean. As long as you have love and enough to get by, then that's all that matters :)

Elle Sees said...

my great grandmother had a wee house like that...it still stands!

kate said...

this post was simple. sweet. and beautiful to the core. such a lovely little garage that holds too much love and too many stories to name.

Holli said...

Oh how I love this!!

Dee Paulino said...

I must agree with you. the beauty of simplicity is undefined.

Meghan said...

i just love this. you have an amazing way with words and personifying the simple life. thank you.

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