I almost bought a couch yesterday.
But I didn’t.
I saw it on Facebook marketplace, which is my favorite source of nearly every furniture item (and, um, everything else) in my home since I became a single mama with a house to furnish.
I mean, I had furniture before, but I’ve made a deliberate effort to not bring anything into this home that was contaminated with some sort of negative memory from the last one.
Which meant nearly all of it had to go.
Which meant I needed to furnish an entire home on a single mom budget. Facebook Marketplace to the rescue.
I’ve found some incredible deals. And it’s either the most bizarre coincidence, ORRR it’s the best example of how God cares about every single detail and desire of our hearts and answers our prayers.
I will think of an item I want, and it will appear on Facebook marketplace.
Like my white IKEA Ektorp sofa. I had decided that in my ideal little cottage living room of my dreams, the white IKEA Ektorp sofa would be just the thing. And voilà, THAT EXACT ONE appeared on the Marketplace for $250, in nearly brand new condition from a sitting room at a now-closed photography studio. It had barely even been sat on, the ad said.
I think of it, it appears, and at a price that works amazingly well with my budget.
Every.
Time.
I have recently rearranged my furniture (shocking, if you know me at all) (not really) in order to squeeze in a second living area, which is a luxury in a small house, but oh, so nice to have so we’re not all wrapped around each other’s ankles 24/7 and so SOME of us can watch Bubble Guppies in ONE room while others of us can sit and read quietly in another without losing our minds.
It was necessary for our mental health, is what I’m trying to say.
Which puts me in need of another sofa.
And so one appeared, but not THE one.
THEEEE one being the Denna Sectional for $3700 from Joybird which seriously makes me drool, though to be honest, I’d be thrilled with ANYTHING from Joybird because those people know what they’re doing, man.
But suffice it to say that a $3700 sectional is not in my budget, no matter how dreamy it is.
Not when I’m still driving a 2001 Toyota with 240,000 miles on it, which may or may not be worth less than that sofa.
But I digress.
So back to this marketplace sofa.
It was beautiful. A really nice higher-end brand. Also barely used, from a master bedroom seating area in a gorgeous home. Also an amazing price. Traditional style, nice neutral color.
It would be a nice, safe, practical choice that would probably make my mama proud.
It wouldn’t be my dream sofa, but it would work. It would be fine. And maybe, I told myself, it’s the right time in life to just be a dang grownup and make the mature, responsible choice and get a sofa that works in a nice, neutral color in a traditional style that will last.
The trouble is that it wouldn’t match well with my fuchsia rug.
And at this stage in life, I’ve decided that the person God created me to be is a person who needs fuchsia rugs over traditional sofas.
Like maybe this FAB vintage one that I actually almost bought this week, also, after I saw it on Instagram and messaged the guy about it. I mean. Tell me, y’all… how perfect would THIS be with my fuchsia rug?! AND HE COULD SHIP IT TO ME, as it turns out. Gasp! Although, for the perfect sofa, driving to Oklahoma City to get it is NOT out of the question.
It was beyond what I wanted to spend, so I did not. I’ve decided that when the RIGHT ONE appears, it will be BOTH 1) within the budget and 2) it will look amazing with my fuchsia rug.
That’s all there is to it.
I’ve learned that this is an abundance mentality, the belief that there’s enough and that what I need is out there and it will present itself when it’s time.
I don’t have to settle for one that I don’t really love.
And I don’t have to spend too much to get one that I do love.
And feeling like you have to do either of those things comes from a mindset of lack.
- I have to choose this one because there may not be another one I can afford.
- I don’t want to spend this much but this is THE ONLY ONE LIKE THIS AND I BETTER GRAB IT WHILE I CAN.
I realized this morning this sofa shopping scenario MAY be a metaphor for choosing the wrong spouse: you can marry the one you don’t love but you think you need because it makes sense, or you can marry the one who appears to be what you want but that’s just because he’s a sleazy con artist who has carefully honed his acting skills and it will cost you a whole lot more than you can afford.
Hypothetically.
No disrespect to the fabulous vintage black and white houndstooth sofa.
If you’re making choices from a mindset of lack, it might be tempting to grab the first thing that comes along.
Or, you can WAIT for the one that God has for you, trusting that when the time is right, the God of the universe will provide the perfect sofa for your new sitting area. Andddd the new/used vehicle to replace your beloved old Toyota… when the time comes.
I don’t have to settle or be anxious about it or in a hurry to get it.
And I can’t wait to see what it’s gonna be.
Follow me on Instagram for pics of fuchsia rugs and marketplace sofas at The Blue House Blog!
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