“…If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.” {Psalm 62:10b}
Someday we’ll have a bigger home. Someday we’ll have two cars. Someday things won’t be so tight.
Someday.
God has blessed us with so many comforts! We have a nice apartment, in a great community, with wonderful neighbors. Although we only have one car, it fits our entire (ever-expanding) family and runs well. Money might be tighter than it was, but despite that I’m fully able to stay home with the kids. We even still splurge on the occasional meal out.
It’s easy to forget the blessings when you focus on the yet to come.
Yesterday we went to meet my sister-in-law at Downtown Disney. She and a friend had come down for two days of child-free leisure. Over beignets and hot chocolate we chatted while the kids ran around a fountain and were mesmerized by the performance of an overly dramatic drummer. On our way back home I asked Elijah if he’d had fun.
“No,” he pouted, “I didn’t get to ride any rides and we didn’t buy any Legos.”
Instead of focusing on the fact that he got to see his aunt who lives out-of-state, eat a yummy, powdered sugary doughnut, play with Legos in the Lego store and stay up way too late…he focused on what he didn’t have.
Can I blame him? He’s 5 and I’m still doing that at almost 30.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High…” {Psalms 92:1}
When we set our hearts on material things, we’ve taken them off God. Our hope becomes earthly and our perspective narrows. Jesus urged us to seek first the kingdom of God, because God knows our needs and is our provider.
So today, instead of setting my heart on the someday things, I am choosing to thank God for the provision He has and is making for our family.
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And setting that example is great parenting!!
Thanks Melissa. I have to be honest, knowing that my kids are watching and that I’m responsible for showing them what a Christian is definitely influences how I live my life. ๐
Oh, yes, it’s such a gift to learn joy in the here and now instead of in the someday. Like you, I’m praying my children will be much farther in that path called “contentment” when they’re my age. How blessed your son is to have you teach him to delight in the Lord above all.
Doesn’t every parent want their kid to do better and be further along than they were? Thanks for the comment, it’s nice to know I’m not alone. ๐
I have a 4 year old and he does the same thing.
And I’m a mom — and I do the same thing.
We are all learning — as students in life. That’s what I want to pass down to my kids.
I agree – having kids watch me day after day is SO sobering. I find myself biting my tongue a lot! ๐
I like how this post reminds us to focus on what we have.
Thank you.
Thank you also for the honor of listing me on your blogroll – I’m counting my blessings, as I celebrate my 100th post. And friends like you are ones I want to stop by and say I’m thankful for, to share this faith journey online.
“We are all learning — as students in life.”
Bonnie –
Thank you so much for that. This is something I definitely want to pass down to my kids! I tend to want to portray to them that I have it all together. What an even bigger gift it would be to remind them that you never stop improving and learning.
Congrats on the 100th post! I always enjoy what you have to say and I was actually surprised to see how recently you started blogging. I thought you’d been at it for years. ๐