I don't know too many home decor bloggers who would like to blog about the most beautiful piece in their living room — if it was a set of DRUMS. It just isn't home decor blog worthy. Creating a beautiful home around A GIANT DRUM SET is challenging to say the least. Especially when all the furniture has been shoved into the dining room to accomodate the drum's presence.
Two rooms completely messed up by one set of drums? For months at a time? A home decor blogger fiasco! A decorating disruption of epic proportions!
Home decorating bloggers like myself clearly LOVE decorating! We enjoy showing off our projects. Let's admit the truth, most home decor bloggers hope for a standing ovation at the end of a DIY project. We want people coming back for more and more of our amazing advice on everything from transforming a bench into a coffee table to how to organize closets into a thing of beauty. And it isn't all selfish or prideful, we really enjoy that we can bless other people with our gifts and encouragement! It is a good thing!
But there is nothing inspiring about these topics: "Before and After: My Living Room Makeover (featuring our new drum set!)" or "30 Ways to Creatively Incorporate A Drum Set in to your Living Room." Those are tips maybe only wives or mothers of musicians could love, right?
In my dreamy life as a home decor blogger, drums are the elephant in the room you just can't work around. They are the thing you don't WANT to work around. They cramp your style. They definitely hinder your creativity. They do not fit with your gifting or passion. They are extremely inconvenient. They take your focus OFF OF YOU and YOUR DESIGN plans and make you think a little more deeply about what really matters in life.
WHAT?
Those drums bring ME to a screeeeching halt.
Gulp.
Well you may or may not have drums in your living room, but you might be able to relate to this type of sacrifice nevertheless. Hang with me here, I have had an epiphany about those drums.
To me, that drum set represents a real sacrifice I am called to make for others without considering if it is convenient, fits with "my gifting or passion" or whether or not it is comfortable for ME. It is a sacrifice I am called to make that isn't about ME. The drums represent a season of my life as a church planter's wife, one that I know has greater eternal consequence than my latest room makeover.
What should challenge and inspire me more than how to transform a dresser from blah to beautiful is this:
How I can sacrificially serve a holy God in the midst of my every day? What sacrifices or "inconveniences" can I graciously accept and even EMBRACE so people can know Him? What eternal impact can I have by simply saying "YES" to GIGANTIC drums in my living room?
You might not literally have drums in your living room. You are probably not a church planter's wife who has to hold music rehearsals in your home (you have to have a bit of crazy in you to sign up to be a church planter's wife!). But like me, God might be calling you turn your eyes off of YOUR idea of the perfect circumstances in which you can serve Him (in a world that revolves around us and our comfort, perhaps!) and celebrate what HE wants to do.
What could we accomplish if we were flexible and joined God in HIS plans instead of trying to fit Him into OURS?
What is God asking you to sacrifice today?
When the drummer left a message on our facebook page telling us that our church has literally saved his life, I knew for sure that drums in my living room are beautiful after all. And drums are definitely blog worthy in the most God-celebrating way.
By Melissa of The Inspired Room
Leave a Comment
Leigh says
I have struggled moving into a weirdly decorated furnished flat in Cape Town South Africa as missionaries to local youth. It is frustrating while we wait to get into a home that feels more cozy and inviting. Yet already we have been able to have youth from the townships stay over, play cards, and have worship and Bible studies at our house. It may be small but 15 girls crowded in eagerly to study the Word and sing. And being here is teaching and stretching me to see I have to make our home the attitude of our family, not just our physical house!
Diane says
I can relate! The drum set is still in my family room while the son who played is newly married but in a house too small to hold them. They became part of our lives 10 years ago. What I lost–some space and home “beauty”; what I gained–an amazing appreciation for percussion and seeing my son play with passion and skill. It has been completely worth the trade off.
Adoption Mama says
I don’t have twitter, but would love to be in the drawing….
Wow. What an amazing story.
Me? Time, energy, emotion…definitely..
Heather says
The little check boxes next to each subject on the school schedule. Oh, how I twist inside when I see my perfectly planned day stutter. :shakes head: How easy it is to lose sight of the One I love in that tunnel-visioned place…to forget to turn to Him, His grace, rather than stubbornly trying to ram my will through. Yes, He has been speaking to me about those little boxes..give me ears to hear!
Because it’s all about relationship, isn’t it? To really listen to the kids, to SEE them, to stop for them. Why do I make those small little boxes more important? God give me grace…sometimes a 1/4 inch square is as big as a drumset.
Thank you for these words…for turning my gaze back to Him.
~Heather
Stacey says
You had me at drum set. That is awesome. I love that you shared this today.
Thanks for the reminder that our homes are really about the people who live there and walk through the door!
Nobody wants to live in a museum! But a house with a drum set in the living room…well these people might just be cool!
Thanks Melissa!
Beth Coulton says
I’ve lived with drums in my living room. Fortunately, my now 16-year-old was able to move them into our newly refurbished garage a couple of years ago and can beat the woo out of them anytime he wants. But the real payoff for me comes at school concert time, when I get to watch him on stage in jazz band, and there is my naturally quiet, keep-to-himself, who’s-really-in-there kid exuding passion like I see him do at NO OTHER TIME. Tears spring to my eyes as it’s practically a window to his soul.
I’d sleep on those drums if I had to, because watching him play is something I’d gladly sacrifice any of my own comforts for!
Wanda says
My living room is my husband’s office!
So I totally understand. Many days (like last night) I want to scream and run from the mess. He has computers and parts laying everywhere.
Most of the time….
I’m learning to sacrifice that lovely room for a steady weekly income!
God is good to provide a good paying job!
Susan says
Whatever it is I try to remember that the Lord loves a cheerful giver…it’s all in the attitude!
Deb Martell says
Loved your words!!
Anna B says
This was such an encouraging post! We are missionaries to youth in the UK and God has been teaching me about sacrificial love ever since we moved here! Thanks for this post, just what I needed to hear.
angie says
I am sacrificing my time to serve the Lord as a youth leader and enjoying every minute of it!
Mary Joy @Seeds of Encouragement Sewn with Grace says
Oh Melissa! What a wonderful article! You are so right! We do get focused on the wrong things sometimes. I love that you guys are church planting and I am going to add your church to my prayer list as well as your drummer! I got tears in my eyes when I read about his comment on your facebook page!! Wow! Isn’t it awesome how God works in our lives and blesses us with messes that we sometimes forget are a blessing? Mine is toys and children’s bookshelves that are so full of books that they are always tumbling all over the floor…in our dining room! I am so blessed that all of our kids love to read. I need to remind myself that someday I will miss all of their toys and books on the floor. Someday the house will be clean and quiet and they will have grown up and moved on with their lives. Thank you for reminding me that I should be sacrificing with love not aggravation! 🙂
Amber says
This post came at an amazing time for me. My husband and I have spent the whole week talking about making our main room (already the living room, front entrance, dinning room, kitchen, and office) our bedroom as well. We live in a 300 square foot space with our 4 year old. There is one bed room and the bed is wall to wall to wall with a 1 foot space between the other wall. We have been sharing this space with our daughter and have been talking about giving it to her fully and putting our bed in the main room. This would be such a sacrifice on our part and would require us to get rid of more stuff (the couch), something we have already done in abundance to live here. It has been hard talking about it, but the pros for our daughter seems good. Your article has given me some perspective. Thanks.
Melynda says
As with most of life’s less-than-perfect-decorating moments, this too shall pass! When your church plant moves into its new building, you will know that all your living room drum look was not in vain. Just like the baby things give way to the video games give way to the wedding gifts give way to the empty nest. Life is a process and one day at a time we savor. Thanks for the reminder – as a grandmother of four Crowning Glories, my haven is a refuge for precious memories. Live is good!
Vee says
You are a far better woman than I! 😀 I’d move mountains to get that drum set to a better location. So glad that it has meant such a difference in a young person’s life.
Erica Hale says
Oh, sister! I have to say, I was laughing through my tears at this post. I am no home-decorating guru (in fact, my next stop is going to be your blog…I could sure use some inspiration!!). However, I do like things…you know, neat and comfy, and tied together with some sort of artistic plan.
The inventory of musical instruments in my living room as of this morning: One piano (that’s mine, so it doesn’t bug me). Two electric basses. One bass stand. One electric guitar. One regular guitar. One large amp. One microphone stand, with microphone. One music stand. Four hundred leaves of sheet music, some in binders, some loose, mostly hidden in a nice basket. And my very favorite: At least two-point-five million miles of Monster cable that will NOT stay put no matter how many times I try to conceal it!
I guess my decorating plan for that room is “Music studio”? Thank goodness none of us play the drums…that will have to wait ’till we get a bigger house!
But it does bring me so much joy to see my husband and son working so hard in music ministry. Your post helps me remember that the instruments in my house are dedicated to the Lord and that they are there for His purpose! I’ll have to keep that in mind the next time I trip over a misplaced cable :o) Thanks for this wonderful post!
Jenn says
Amen! Bring on God’s plans!!
Anjanette Warren says
My sacrifice comes in the form of a rat my daughter has fallen in love with. Welcome to the family Smokey!!
christy says
Beautiful post! RIght now we have our sister in law and her baby living with us..its temorary, just not sure how long the tmporary will be…so we all make it fit..my husband and i sleep with one of our kids and my oldest shares his room with his little brother so that we can give that extra bedroom to her…
Amber I. says
I cried when I read today’s encourage. I broke! Like a dam I BROKE! This may have seemed so random to many but God used it to speak directly to my heart. My husband and I are starting a church called Rescue. We are currently in our home. We jam 50 people a week into our home! This past week I got rid of some of our furniture; moved the living room to the dining room and the dining room to the kitchen so that our living room could become the sancuary. It was just necesary! My best friend said “No” you shouldn’t have to do this.” I told her my desire is to do this. I love being able to give up somethng for my beautiful Savior. Then in (In)Courage today God said “I noticed”. Thank you God for sisters that can impart in to my life! Thank you sisters for obeying the Spirit!
Beth Werner Lee says
Oh wow, I love it when God confirms things he’s doing in our lives. Amber I loved your comment. God bless you.
For me it’s sacrificing my fun free-time schedule to be aware of what time it is, to be on time, and to share our one car among three drivers. I’m to be the organizer: I who among the three am weakest at it. Is God laughing? But then that’s how my family made me practice simple math, by keeping scores when we all played games (everyone was concerned that I got that math added up right!) so maybe practice is the only way to improve after all and the trick is to find the happiest way to do what you have to do.
Kelle says
Thank you for today’s post. Reminds me to stay God-focused.
Penny says
Always see everything through God’s eyes.
Erica says
My homeschool classroom is my drum set! Many times I have looked around our school room thinking about all the pretty things I could fill it with instead of the old desks, many shelves of books, and piles of paper that clutter it now. The thought quickly passes as I remember what I have been given. God has blessed me with three beautiful boys to lovingly teach in that space. No fluffy pillow, comfy chair, cotton throw, or decorative vase could ever be worth as much as the minds and souls of my children.
Angela says
Oh, Melissa. I love that someone’s life was saved by the Lord pushing you out of your comfort zone and moving your furniture around.
You are precious. I have had SEVERAL things happen in the past few days that were frustrating, inconvenient, hard on my husband and one of my kids as well. But when I sat back today and let my Savior sweetly show me His reasoning in it all, I was so thankful for every hoop and heartache we had to go through. It is always worth it if His hands are all over it.
Thank you for sharing this post.
You Rock… no pun intended;)
Nancy L. says
Love it! My husband is a youth pastor, so my living room carpet is stained & the furniture arrangement is about cramming as many teenagers as possible in there, but I love it (most days).
Praying for your family & that God will bless your new church.
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience says
This rocked my world 🙂 (Pun intended.)
Our oldest son has been woodworking and sanding and packing his creations to ship out and we have stacks of bubble wrap and sawdust and wood *everywhere* and somedays I feel a bit spinny with it all somedays….
Your story of sacrifice moved me in the deep places — our God moving you.
This was truly beautiful and a testament, Melissa.
*Thank you*….
All’s grace,
Ann
Ellen says
Awesome post! I’m a stay at home mom with three little kids, I am learning that the biggest decoration in my home is my attitude. No one notices the clutter when the kids are laughing and everyone is smiling and no one notices the clean kitchen floor when I’m yelling. Thanks for the reminder… God sees things in a different light and I have a hunch He thinks the drums are just what your living room was missing!
Jen says
Thanks for sharing, Melissa! My husband and I are campus missionaries in a large city, and have made several “sacrifices” in our living situation for the sake of ministry. It took some getting used to, but we really love our lifestyle now – even when it means that hosting out-of-town friends looks more like a campout in the living room! Thanks for the honesty of your post – love seeing pictures of a beautiful home taken apart to serve others. Many blessings in your efforts to bring God’s kingdom to your new city.
Nikki Skidmore says
I am a worship leader for a church plant, my son and husband are musicians…I literally have instruments in my way most every day…but your blog summed it up so well….it’s not an inconvenience, its an HONOR! thanks for this post! much love, Nikki
EarlineMacias32 says
I think that to get the business loans from creditors you must present a great reason. But, once I’ve got a short term loan, because I wanted to buy a house.
Sharon says
Googling drums and living rooms and I have come across your lovely blog. Thankyou. I have a living room with a drumkit, piano, 2 violins, a trumpet, a guitar, a child’s guitar and a keyboard. It is our music room but I also want it as a ‘pretty’ sitting area. It is also converted to a guest room frequently.
Your blog was a reminder to me that I need to see the drums for what they are. An interest of DH’s, a gift from God (literally, he mentioned at church he always wanted to learn and God supplied) and not see them as the clutter that my decorating eye percieves them as.
Thanks from an Aussie family
paining furniture white, before & after says
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