For this week’s edition of Simple Sunday, we are thrilled to share a guest post written by Michele at Frugal Granola. Michele’s blog is filled with hope, encouragement, and a passion for God. On her blog she shares many wonderful, whole food recipes, frugal tips, and peeks into her daily life as a wife and mother. She has been writing a wonderful Simple Living series every Thursday for 12 weeks so far. It is a fantastic read! We encourage you to stop in at Frugal Granola and spend some time with Michele. We know it will be an enjoyable and encouraging visit.

“And all the loveliest things there be
Come so simply,
Seems to me.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay

Living a Simple Life has many meanings in my life. It is not only a way of living, but a way of viewing and approaching life. For me, it is not about being part of a “Movement” per se, but a Journey. Simplicity isn’t necessarily about self-denial, and living in uncomfortable bareness; it’s about appreciation, inspiration, and evaluation. It’s about savoring life authentically, allowing room for growth, creativity, peacefulness, and passion.

I believe my life has purpose; it’s about more than just me. However, it is easy in today’s society to allow others so much control over our lives, that many people are running around today unsure of their purpose, abandoning their dreams, and neglecting those they love most. They may even get to a point where they avoid being in quietness, alone with themselves—they don’t know who they may find!

In beginning to live simply, my first step involves evaluating my life. As a Christian, I desire to do what God created me to do. I need to search and listen to what God is placing on my heart. By acknowledging what dreams have persisted in my heart over the years, I have a good idea of the direction to take.

As soon as these dreams are realized, though, everything else comes rushing in to drown out and distract. You know, the “rational” voices: “But what will people think?” “What if it doesn’t work?” “Is it safe?” “How will we afford it?” Suddenly, my life has faded to the background, and the “controlling others” are forefront again.

If I choose to ignore the dreams, I will never be passionately living life. If I am not fulfilling His will, then I am not glorifying Him, as His creation. His voice should have precedence over all others.

Sometimes His voice calls us to take drastic measures in steps of faith: “Sell it all.” “Leave it all behind.” “Relocate.” Above all, “Leave it all to Me.” In refusing to allow such voices as the media (telling us we need more stuff), bosses (telling us we need them to provided us more stuff), acquaintances (telling us we deserve more stuff), we can stop and listen.

When I leave my life and dreams in God’s hands, I can live peacefully. I can focus on glorifying my Creator each day, and appreciating His gifts. When trials come (and they will), I can know that the future is in His hands. I can live an authentic life, not a “substitute life” of tasks and pleasures drowning out His voice. I am along for a Journey, full of discoveries and adventures along the way.

I begin each day overwhelmingly satisfied and blessed by all that I have (even though it may seem like very little to others). This contentment, though, doesn’t mean that I should live a stagnant life. My Simple Life is full of growing and learning. I frequently check out books from the library for inspiration and education. I am often encouraged by others living biblical, simple lives around me.

I love learning how to live a life that is not dependent upon filling my life with mass-marketed products (which require long hours of work to pay for). I don’t have to participate in the “have it all, more is better, you deserve it” mentality, that is so pervasive in our culture.

In the simple tasks of making our food, supporting local farmers, creating a garden or memory album, and taking time to serve others, we are glorifying God. We can appreciate the raw materials He provided, being good stewards, instead of creating waste. In living a sustainable lifestyle, we can help others to live and know Him as well. In eating healthily, we care for the bodies He created, and fuel ourselves to do His will.

In living a Simple Life, we are blessed to spend quality time with our daughter. It allows us to provide her opportunities to learn and flourish. She can live in a close relationship with us, instead of spending the majority of her time apart from her family. She gains life experiences, instead of merely financial “benefits.” She is free to live life passionately.

To me, living life passionately means appreciating what God has made, and thrilling at opportunities and blessings He gives us with all of my senses. I can live passionately by serving my family real food (not chemical-laden substitutes), taking my daughter to experience a wintery day at the beach, relaxing in an essential-oil scented bath, sending a homemade card to a friend with the flu, or exploring a new part of the city with my husband.

Simple Living allows me to experience life to the fullest. As Laura Ingalls Wilder writes, “It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

Michele Augur
June 27, 2008

Thank you for sharing your Simple Life with us Michele.

If you’d be interested in writing a guest post for our Simple Sunday series, please leave a comment or send us an email at 3moms@happytobeathome.net.

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