Have you ever opened your closet door or dresser drawer and said something like, "Uh, I have nothing to wear!"? (Okay, maybe that one was just for my female readers.)
I have. And I still do. I go through these phases where I am just sick and tired of what I have. I want
something new or better yet, I want
everything new. You know what I'm talking about. Where nothing excites you anymore, or everything you have just seems old, used, worn out or just plain out of style.
I try really hard not to live in those moments for too long or let them happen too often. I know I have
plenty of things to wear and I should be very grateful for all that I have. Seriously. Not just, "Oh, okay, I'm fine with what I have." But rejoicing with a heart filled with gratitude that I am well taken care of and provided for. I know people (lots of people) who go without a lot of things because they don't have a choice right now. I know what life in a third-world country looks like for many (and I know it is much worse than what I was exposed to for most).
Why is it so easy for me to get caught up in the have-nots or the I-wishes? Why do I care so much about what I can wear or eat or purchase?
The other day when I was feeling this way I decided to literally take stock of what I have. More specifically, what clothes I have purchased or been given in the past two years. I was shocked. Here's what I saw:
sweaters, dressy shirts and long sleeve shirts . . . and that doesn't show two jackets or my new shoes.
A lot of solid colored tops, a few new pair of pants, shorts and capris . . .
The clothes I've purchased in the past two years is definitely enough to last me a while but that's not even half of what I own!
A lot of those new clothes were gifts, and I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful. I'm actually extremely grateful for those gifts because they are cute, and my style, and I love them and they came from very special people. And it means I get to wear new clothes!
But my point is, that being in a place of discontent is dangerous. Very dangerous! It can start with something small like wishing you had newer clothes but it can spread to wishing you had a bigger apartment, better furniture, a different job, a house, a yard, or dare I say a (fill in the blank) spouse or family?
I don't want to get there. I need to be thankful, grateful, and joyful for what I do have . . . all the time. I need to be content with who I am, where I am in life, and what I have around me. I need to be content with the clothes I have in my closet and remember how blessed I really am.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever opened your closet door or dresser drawer and said something like, "Uh, I have nothing to wear!"? (Okay, maybe that one was just for my female readers.)
I have. And I still do. I go through these phases where I am just sick and tired of what I have. I want
something new or better yet, I want
everything new. You know what I'm talking about. Where nothing excites you anymore, or everything you have just seems old, used, worn out or just plain out of style.
I try really hard not to live in those moments for too long or let them happen too often. I know I have
plenty of things to wear and I should be very grateful for all that I have. Seriously. Not just, "Oh, okay, I'm fine with what I have." But rejoicing with a heart filled with gratitude that I am well taken care of and provided for. I know people (lots of people) who go without a lot of things because they don't have a choice right now. I know what life in a third-world country looks like for many (and I know it is much worse than what I was exposed to for most).
Why is it so easy for me to get caught up in the have-nots or the I-wishes? Why do I care so much about what I can wear or eat or purchase?
The other day when I was feeling this way I decided to literally take stock of what I have. More specifically, what clothes I have purchased or been given in the past two years. I was shocked. Here's what I saw:
sweaters, dressy shirts and long sleeve shirts . . . and that doesn't show two jackets or my new shoes.
A lot of solid colored tops, a few new pair of pants, shorts and capris . . .
The clothes I've purchased in the past two years is definitely enough to last me a while but that's not even half of what I own!
A lot of those new clothes were gifts, and I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful. I'm actually extremely grateful for those gifts because they are cute, and my style, and I love them and they came from very special people. And it means I get to wear new clothes!
But my point is, that being in a place of discontent is dangerous. Very dangerous! It can start with something small like wishing you had newer clothes but it can spread to wishing you had a bigger apartment, better furniture, a different job, a house, a yard, or dare I say a (fill in the blank) spouse or family?
I don't want to get there. I need to be thankful, grateful, and joyful for what I do have . . . all the time. I need to be content with who I am, where I am in life, and what I have around me. I need to be content with the clothes I have in my closet and remember how blessed I really am.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 comment:
So well put! I can go to that place so easily...but God is always bigger and better than any earthly desire. Love, leah
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