Living in luxury

Renae Brumbaugh

-- Coffee Talk --

I’m depressed. Seriously depressed.

 

You see, I recently had my first taste of genuine, pampered luxury. Our family went on a cruise, and it was five days and nights of pure bliss.

 

Let me elaborate. There were people who cleaned my room for me. Not once, but twice a day! Before bed each night, they left chocolates on my pillow and folded towels in the shapes of cute, cuddly animals.

 

There were people who prepared my meals for me—anything I wanted—any time, night or day. Each evening, I dined in a fancy restaurant where a waiter placed my napkin in my lap for me and brought me gourmet food on a china plate.

 

I had a massage and a facial.

 

I danced with and kissed a dolphin.

 

I had my picture taken while seated next to a sea lion.

 

I sang karaoke to Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.” Yes I did.

 

I laid in a hammock on the beach. I laid by the pool and read books. And when I got tired, I went to my room and took a nap.

 

Then, and this is the depressing part, I had to go home.

 

The day after we returned, I did eight—yes, I counted, eight loads of laundry. I cleaned my kitchen and cooked and cleaned some more. And then, when I was nearly exhausted from all the work, I sat in a big comfy chair in the living room, stared off into the distance and wondered who would put my napkin in my lap and bring me gourmet food on a china plate.

 

I’m still waiting.

 

I wish I had some great and profound wisdom to impart about living in the real world, or about how life’s greatest moments come while serving others or how if given the choice, I’d choose the simple life, but no. That would be a lie. I like luxury. I like being pampered. And given the choice between doing eight loads of laundry in a day or having someone cook and clean for me, I’d choose the luxury.

 

Call me shallow if you want. At least I’m honest.

 

But since I do have to live in the real world, I’ve decided to bring a bit of luxury into my life. I’ve googled gourmet recipes. I’m learning to make towel animals. And most importantly, I’m seeing the importance of having a bit of chocolate every day.

 

And really, none of those things are out of reach in the real world. True luxury lies in the little things, like fluffing a napkin into someone’s lap and placing a hamburger on a china plate. Those little things make us smile. And truly, a smile is one of the greatest luxuries of life. If we have the people we love around us, and can bring a little joy to their lives, we can count ourselves blessed.

 

One of these days, I know I’ll be living in the lap of luxury in a city so brilliant, even the streets are made of gold. I’m looking forward to that day. But until then, I’m counting the days until my next cruise.

 

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass,” Revelation 21:2

 

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition.