I lead a very simple content life.  I love my simple ways and the hard work I put into conserving the Earth and saving money.  I love sharing my ideas to anyone who will listen.    The thought of having to sacrifice some time or put forth the effort to become a true green frugalist bothers some people and makes them feel like my ideas “sets us back 100 years.”  Or worse….we lead our lives as the image of something so negative:  ”white trash,” “poor,”and “backwards.”

Yesterday, I sat down and prayed.  It had been pointed out to me that a mere savings of $30 in a month’s time due to hanging out my laundry wasn’t worth the time and energy it took.  And the impression I was sending out to the world by hanging out my clothes to dry was “trashy.”

My prayer was simple:

“God you have told us to be content with our lives and that it is only You that we need.  God you have instructed us as believers not to conform to the worldly views.  You also have told us to take care of the Earth.  Grant me the strength to not allow these comments distract my focus of living a frugal and humble lifestyle.”

Then it dawned on me….to the world looking into my life, I may have the image of someone unworthy, trashy, poorly, or just plain backwards.  But it is their perception not my God’s.  He sees me as a humble, simple child of God trying to live her life with contentment and in faith. If I tried to conform to the worldly image, I think I would be missing out on a lot.

Besides, doesn’t our economical times just deem a time where we should look past images?  If saving a mere $30, supplies my children with new shoes for school or keeps me at home for my family; I’d say it is well worth all the hard work of hanging out my clothes inspite of what the neighbors might think.  If faced with the choice of saving money and Mother Earth over convenience, the decision will be easy and a sacrifice of no longer purchasing paper and plastic goods will be made.  And no matter what the world thinks of me, I know God loves me for being me.  And that is more important to me than anything.

So those of you out there who are facing the choice to become true frugalists be warned.  You will not be conforming to the world and you might hear some hurtful comments but just be satisfied that during tough times sacrifices have to be made and trying to keep up an image is so much harder.  Being a frugalist has taught me a lot of things but mostly how to be content.  And that is the impression I want to leave my children and my children’s children.

“Our great great grandma was a simple woman who love the Lord.”

That is going to be my legacy……

Related posts:

1. Image….To Perceive or Not to Perceive
2. Made New
3. Motivation That Makes Cents