It’s easiest to be content when you don’t know what everyone else has or what everyone else is doing! We feel pretty good about our starter home until we hear that our friends are building their dream home on 30 acres. We thought our Aldi pumpkins looked really cute until we see a blog post with a complete porch makeover that includes 12 pumpkins, 2 new lanterns, 3 rugs and a huge custom rocking chair.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Since we can’t live in a bubble, how do we fight the discontentment that creeps into our hearts as homemakers?
Let’s look at one of my homemaking heroes as described in Proverbs 31:27. “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
#1 I can fight discontentment by keeping the focus on my home.
The New Living Translation says “She carefully watches everything in her household.” You could say she minds her own business! By not worrying about what others have or do, I have more energy to care for my own home.
I think this can also apply to just doing the best with what we have. Even if you’re living in a super temporary situation, like an ugly apartment or a room at your in-laws – you can do your best to make it a cozy, peaceful place for your family.
When a beautiful picture on Instagram or someone’s blog catches my attention – for example, a bright cottage kitchen – I look for a detail in the picture that I can incorporate into my kitchen using what I have on hand. I don’t have to have a completely new kitchen, but sometimes a small detail or rearranging of items on the counter makes a big difference.
#2 I can fight discontentment by staying busy!
The second half of that verse says she “suffers nothing from laziness.” (NLT) One of the reasons I make my home my first priority is simply because there is always something to do at home. When I’m content and thankful for my home, I want to care for it. This means I’m staying busy with chores, decluttering and other projects!
There are definitely times that I look around my living area and become discontent with our very worn furniture. Of course I would love a brand new couch! But when I’ve taken the time to dust, mop the floors, fluff the pillows and light a candle or two, my living room looks so tidy and cozy that I honestly don’t notice the furniture as much as before.
Read More: How I Fight the Enemies of Homemaking
Do you deal with discontentment as a homemaker? How do you fight it? I would love to hear what you do! ❤
Come Home For Comfort 
I absolutely love this post! So relatable, Thankyou for sharing. I always try to keep in mind that while some may have a wonderful huge home, I have a wonderful family and that’s what truly matters ❤
LikeLike
I’m so glad you enjoyed it – thanks for stopping by! 🙂
LikeLike
We were blessed to get some new furniture when we moved in our new house. So when I look at decor, I see what I can add to my home with little to no cost to me by using cc points to redeem for giftcards and see what I already have.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
LikeLike
I love that!
LikeLike
Such great reminders! Social media sure makes it easy to compare and get the urge to feel as though your home is not good enough. I think we all have spaces in our homes we love and ones we’d love to update. Decluttering usually helps me enjoy my space more and so does taking a break from social media. We spent many years of our married life living in small apartments so if I start comparing I remind myself of all the blessings I’m currently surrounded by. Comparison is the thief of joy – right!?!
LikeLike
I love that! Yes, sometimes I try to remember how it felt when we first moved into our house – having a WHOLE house to ourselves after living in apartments for years.
LikeLike
What a great post Whitney! It’s so easy to feel discontentment with the overload of social media telling us we need new all the time. I am not a minimalist and love our home just as it is. Like you, I decorate with what I have, and I’m sure to most it’s overdone. However, our home is our haven and GOD and family are very much the focus. Thank you for the gentle reminder. ❤
LikeLike
Love that, Laura! I feel like my house is overdone sometimes, too. I have to remind myself that I decorate for ME and not for my Instagram followers. 🙂
LikeLike
I really love this! I scroll Instagram looking for ideas and then get down on myself because my home isn’t Instagram-worthy. Those verses are so helpful!
LikeLike
We all struggle with that at some point, Michelle. You’re not alone! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful post, Whitney!! One year I tried to achieve the piles of pumpkins and mums on my front porch like I see in those beautiful IG pictures. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t even come close to the amount I see on Instagram, yet the expense and upkeep were still too much. After that year I went back to my very simple fall porch and enjoyed it much more. 🍂 🎃 🍁
LikeLike
Same! I discovered I enjoyed $5 worth of pumpkins and flowers as much as I did $40 worth!
LikeLiked by 1 person