Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Blessing of Not Having

There is nothing under my bed. Not one box or lost shoe or item of seasonal interest; not even one little dust bunny. And I don't ever vacuum under there. How can it be possible, you ask? It's simple. I don't have an under to my bed - no bed frame, just the box-spring right there on the floor with a tidy little bed-skirt to cover up the truth. And I love it.

Sure, sometimes I feel like something's missing. Like I ought to have a bed frame, that perhaps that's exactly the thing that will suddenly make me a real adult. (And then I read Jenni's post, realize for the millionth time that I take myself far too seriously, and run like mad for my tutu.)

Mostly, though, it's a reminder of all the things in life that I think I want, but don't really need. And that not having them can actually be a blessing. Like how having no bed frame means I never lose things under the bed and I never have to vacuum. Seriously, I do stop sometimes and look at my bed without its frame and think about how lucky I am to 1) have a bed to sleep in, and 2) never have to crawl under it to look for ... anything. And then I start thinking about how lucky I am in so many simple ways.

Recently, I think of President Monson's words in General Conference:

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

"This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways."


I love the peace I have in my heart when I will simply choose to see the blessings in my life. It's amazing what a little gratitude can do.

Maybe someday I'll find the perfect bed frame, the one that makes vacuuming under it a joy. But for now, for the way that not having one makes me count my blessings, it's worth putting it off indefinitely.


1 comment:

  1. I remember when my bed didn't have a bed frame...I loved it. We do have so many things to be greatful for thank you for your post. You are wonderful.

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