grace

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. Psalm 103:15-16

Elizabeth... went to a window to enjoy its prospect... Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with delight... 'And of this place,' thought she, 'I might have been mistress!' Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Odd pairing, but both came to mind this weekend. Huw took me to see the house that he has found for us to live in after we're married, and it's not easy to be humble and thankful for God's grace toward us. Of course we have a house! We can afford it. We need space and comfort. We want to entertain. We forget that we don't inherently deserve anything, and that the very word 'gift' assumes a giver and receiver – whilst enjoying good things, we must remember that we are the latter and not the former.

What does one look for when searching for a home? A good location (convenient, quiet, safe, good neighbours), space (spare room, storage, front and back gardens) and aesthetics paired with convenience and comfort (paint colour, wallpaper if applicable, condition and cleanliness) – including, of course, a nice view if you can afford it. Now Mirfield is not the rolling hills of Derbyshire, and 30 West Royd Avenue is certainly not Pemberley. It sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to forget. Already I have my eye on a wall that needs repainting, a bit of front garden that needs replanting and other such visions crowd my mind.

How easy it is to make a building a castle, and to crown yourself mistress. We must naturally have a longing for belonging and permanence – eternity even – perhaps knowing instinctively that death was never part of the original plan. But Christians are aliens on this earth – I must keep knocking that into my head daily – and we must remember that our true home is yet to come and isn't in green English countryside. Huw and I will only be in Mirfield for two years, and that will be good for us. Good for me especially – I get so attached to things and enjoy being queen. But it will be good for us to learn not to be rooted in things that don't last.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

So rather than dreaming about a lulling, pleasing picture of a green lawn and bright blooming flowers, perhaps I should spend more time looking out of our lounge window now. We have a clear, unobstructed view of the Royal Free Hospital and we hear sirens half a dozen times a day. I always think what a nuisance they are, but really I should be grateful! A daily reminder that our days on earth are few, and that not one should be wasted or taken for granted.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12