Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12, NIV)
I used to quote the above verse to my husband regularly. He’s been full of plans for our home but slow to accomplish most of them. There’s lots of reasons why, but it’s been something God has used to teach me some lessons such as patience and contentment.
I yearn for order and cleanliness.
I married clutter. I live in the dusty country.
I struggle to tiptoe the line between contentment and apathy.
If I’m quiet, things aren’t done.
If I’m proactive, I nag.
None of those is beneficial to me, my home, or my family.
We don’t have the money to afford me the luxury of hiring someone to do every job. Stud Muffin is more than able to do any home maintenance or improvement project you can imagine. He’s an awesome carpenter, drywaller, tape and texturer, plumber, and electrician.
So, for twenty-plus years now, we’ve been in an odd dance of planning a home project, almost starting it (purchasing supplies even), but it often doesn’t quite get started.
This week, I’m about to see one of those long-deferred hopes finally fulfilled.
My office.
The lights are installed but not wired. The molding at the top of the bookcases isn’t in yet.
But I’m moving in and I’m thrilled!
Virginia Woolf said, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”
I’m halfway there!
The Scripture above is really true. I’d given up hope of having a nice and orderly place to write in. But now, even in the moving-in process, I find myself energized to work and write and produce.
Care to share any of your deferred hopes with me?
Writer of Sweet Small Town Stories of Love and Family 