Signora Sheila

We’ve had thieves strike. Twice. The first time they were real thieves, but the second time they were kind of fake thieves. As many of you know, we have a summer house, and when we weren’t there, thieves entered and stole a mirror and a small step ladder. 

Those thieves were odd. They didn’t mess anything up and the house showed no signs of breaking and entering. They must have gotten hold of a key somehow. So not only did we have to replace those items, we also had to change the locks. What a hassle!

Strange thieves

But the second thieves were even stranger. They stole some kitchen potholders from our guest house, which is right next door. (It’s not ours; it’s our daughter’s uninhabited house.) But that was it. They didn’t take anything else.

But it meant I had to buy new potholders, otherwise future guests wouldn’t be able to cook. And they might want us to cook for them… horror of horrors! (Just kidding! We’re always more than happy to have guests!) But I had to get those pot holders.

Danger of shops

And of course, we all know the dangers of shopping. (If you’re trying to live a simple life, that is.)

Anyway, I found a set of cute potholders and placemats to match my curtains at the merceria (haberdashery shop). See how dangerous shops can be?

But since guests are not always careful with things, I decided to keep the new potholders at home. I put the old ones in the guesthouse because things seem to grow legs around here.

The folly of chasing stuff

I don’t shop a lot, much to my husband’s delight! Ever since we decided to live a simple life, I began to see how much shopping interfered with that. And then there were the thieves, and not just the thieves. We’ve also had some problems with mold lately. Which sent some things to the garbage.

All this helped me to see, even more, the folly of keeping earthly treasures. The more stuff we have, the more work it creates. We have to maintain it, clean it, or take care of it in some way. And I don’t want to spend my life and my time keeping up with a lot of stuff!

And also because I’ve discovered that the less I buy, the more I appreciate the few purchases I do make. And this time, I didn’t know if I’d ever find a table centerpiece that matched my curtains so well!

Still, I choose not to pursue things because:

• There are better ways to use my money.
• There are better ways to spend my time.
• The less I have, the less I have to worry about thieves.
• Or about moths and rust. Dust and breakage.

And mostly because I’d rather be chasing better treasures! Like love, peace, joy, contentment, and generosity. Treasures that thieves, rust, and mildew can never touch!

How about you? Can thieves get their hands on your treasures or are they safe in God’s hands?

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Matthew 6:19-21

📷 Image credits: graphica made on Canva; other images are mine