The more you own, the more it owns you...

For 18 years I lived in a condo that was about 450 sq feet. I did not have a washer & dryer, or a kitchen table. I would keep my clothes under the bed, stuffed to the max in the tiny closet I had, and even in the kitchen cabinets. Oh, I also kept them in the oven ( I know, not too smart :-), but I never cook anyway!). I would dream of the day that I would have a bigger home and a lot more space.

Today, I live in a house over 4 times the size. I have a large yard, a garage, and a big laundry room. Instead of 1 bathroom, I now have 3 bathrooms. It is 2 stories with 3 bedrooms, and even a playroom for my son. I am truly grateful that God has seen fit to give me this lovely home, and a place to joyfully raise a very active little boy.

OK, here is the point to all of this. Yes, I am so grateful and would not want to be in that cramped little condo again. And yet, there is also something to be said about the simplicity that it held. I remind myself this and it keeps me quite grounded. Instead of 15 minutes to clean my house, it now can take hours. The yard is another job in itself. It reminds me of having another child, as it can be tempermental, time consuming, and quite costly (I say that in the nicest way :-)). There are more things that can break down, more to furnish, more to decorate, etc.

I also used to have a very nice BMW. Ahhh yes, nothing as sweet as the hum of that German engineering! For years I drove different styles of them. I felt as though I needed that in my life I guess. I've since changed my views. Now I drive a 7 year old Toyota Scion that I paid cash for. The gas is great, the insurance is so affordable, and I'm not constantly worried that someone will ding my doors! Do I occasionally breathe a deep sigh as I see a BMW drive by me? YES! However, again I say, "the more you own, the more it owns you"! It's wonderful not having a car payment and the aggravation of worrying all the time. Not to mention the cost to repair it.

I hope you get my point. I am not against having nice things, or wanting more. I just hope you always know that nothing comes without a cost. Truly, the more you own, the more it owns you. So...weigh your decisions carefully before purchasing something you may regret later. Consider the impact of ownership, no matter what it is. And try always to look at the bigger picture.