A Small Dwelling Can Hold a Lot of Love
Una Hogar Pequeño Puede Contener Mucho Cariño
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Saturday, February 29, 2020
The wisdom of a fortune cookie advised, "A small house can hold as much happiness as a big one." [Photographer: Mary Hunt Webb. *]
During the first twelve years of our marriage, my husband's career took us to seven different cities west of the Mississippi River. As a result, we have lived in a number of dwellings in a variety of neighborhoods.
One that left a lasting memory was a small house in "The Avenues", an area of older homes that had a reputation for being upscale. Our little house was snug with thick walls and a full basement. Two bedrooms were upstairs while a tiny bedroom that was clearly an afterthought was downstairs in a corner of the finished basement. The "den", if you could call it that, was in the basement and not easily accessible. The kitchen was small as were the bedrooms, the wiring was inadequate, and we didn't have a built-in dishwasher or a garbage disposal.
This is the little kitchen in that cozy house. I told you it was small. [Photographer: Morris S. Webb, Jr. *]
When people asked where we lived and received a response, they invariably replied, "Oh, The Avenues! You must be wealthy!"
My husband developed a snappy comeback to that: "No, the only difference between my house and yours is that my ants and cockroaches are more established than yours!"
Still, that house had some good features. The basement had a laundry room with a large, old-fashioned double laundry sink with a scrub board as part of one of the sinks. That was very handy because we had a new baby so that I was able to wash off food residue and body expulsions before putting his garments in the washer. That room also contained substantial storage shelves. Since we lived in an area known for receiving snow nine months of the year, I bought extra supplies and stored them there.
This is our little house after one of many ordinary snowstorms. [Photographer: Morris S. Webb, Jr. *]
Another advantage was our friendly neighbors. One was a nurse that was able to be with me during part of the birth process when the nuns in that hospital would not allow my husband to be there. Another set of neighbors had a teenage daughter that became our babysitter after our baby was born. She and her family showed love to us by helping us in many ways while we lived there.
One of the Bible passages that consoled us when we drove through our neighborhood and saw bigger houses was Psalm 49:16-17, which advises, "16) Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; 17) for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them." (NIV) Although our dwelling was small and outdated, we have fond memories of it because it was the right house for that time in our lives.
You may not currently be living in quarters of your choosing. You may have too many people living in too small a space. Perhaps you are not living in a good area. However, God knows where you need to be at this point. Jeremiah 29:11, tells us "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (NIV) That means that your current circumstances are not permanent because God is at work in your life. The important thing is to reflect the love of Jesus to your family, friends and neighbors, just as our neighbors did when we lived in that little house.
Years have passed since then, our "baby" is a grown man and we have lived in three more houses since then. With the Lord's help, the years have erased some of the difficulties from our memories so that we tend to mostly remember the best parts. I know that the Lord can and will do the same for you if you only concentrate on creating good memories and getting along with family and neighbors – even the difficult ones – because life is too short to do otherwise.
BIBLE VERSES USED IN THIS POSTING
Psalm 49:16-17 — 16) Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; 17) for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. (NIV)
Salmos 49:16-17 — 16) No temas cuando se enriquece alguno, Cuando aumenta la gloria de su casa: 17) Porque cuando muera no llevará nada, Ni descenderá tras él su gloria. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Jeremiah 29:11 — "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (NIV)
Jeremías 29:11 — 16) "Porque yo sé los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, dice Jehová, pensamientos de paz, y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperáis." (Reina-Valera 1960)
The words on this sign say it all. [Photographer: Rebecca Matthews. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com *]
* Please do not use our original photos without our permission. These include photos by Mary Hunt Webb, Morris Webb, Jr., Morris Webb, Sr., and C.B. Hunt. Thank you.
