In our not-so-young adult Sunday school class (of which I
happen to be the teacher) we are studying the book Satisfied by Jeff Manion. The sub title: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption. The first few chapters have opened our eyes
to our own participation in the human condition of always wanting more. (Would
that be human condition or first world condition? Either way…) The premise is this…we miss out on what we have by being consumed with what we don’t have. Even worse, that we miss out
on what we have because we are consumed with what others have.
I’m guilty. Man, I wish I could drive one of the new body
style Suburban’s. I dang sure wish I had a maid once a week like some of my
friends. Many of the women I know have
husbands who keep REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS…jealous! Get this…some people have kids that behave…yes
please! So here is where it gets tricky…the woman driving the brand new
suburban, the girl with a weekly maid, the wife with a husband who comes home
at 5 o’clock, and the couple who has kids that behave better than mine… they
want more. We all want that one thing to add to our collection of the gifts we’ve
already been given.
So in the thought process of eyeing that suburban or wishing
I had someone to clean the floors what am I missing? Answer: a lot. I am not showing gratitude for what I have
right in front of my face. It’s likely that I am missing out on things to be
grateful for that I haven’t even become aware of yet. I want to see the blessings surrounding me
and not choke them out with greed and coveting. So this week’s Top Ten list
consists of things I am so very grateful for.
10. This blog. I
hated writing when I was growing up. I
didn’t believe in writing during Sunday school class because that should be a
day off from the horrid activity. Not so
much anymore. I like it. I am thrilled to have readers who actually read it!
9. My Closet. At the
risk of sounding overly dramatic… I stand in the middle of my closet almost
daily and say, “I don’t have anything to wear!”, but I do. I actually have
quite the impressive wardrobe. So today
I’ll choose to wear a tank top and athletic shorts while being grateful for a
closet full of goodies.
8. Church. I believe God has assigned each of us to a
specific community of believers. I am
currently serving at the same church I was raised in which is pretty
great. And while I sometimes wonder why
I was called to this specific congregation, I know He has a plan.
7. Friends. I don’t have many, but the ones I have are
awesome. They get me. I never have to worry about hurting their feelings because
they know my heart and I am grateful for that.
6. Our home. I really
love it. I suppose I should since I designed it. It does have a lot of floors. I wasn’t quite sure how to get around that in
the design process.
5. Food. I am thankful that my family will never go hungry. We are blessed to be able to eat quite a variety
of meals (Thanks to Ole Jus) most of which include meat, which can’t be said
for some people around the globe.
4. My vehicles. I’ve had a change in automobiles recently,
but I am so happy to report that I have something to get me from point-A to
point-B, and it was manufactured in the current millennium. (More to come on
the vehicle swap soon)
3. My kiddos. I am so
thankful for all 4 of them. I am extra thankful I only had to experience
vaginal childbirth for half of them. Being a mom and stepmom is hard, but the
rewards are eternal. They are the delight of my days and they all sleep through
the night so now we are good there too.
2. Ole Jus. I give
him a hard time in my writing and an even harder time in real life, but don’t
let him fool you…I take my fair share back from him behind closed doors and it’s
all because we love each other. He does have terrible hours at work, but he
is a pretty good guy with an incredible job.
He’s bald, but I think he’s a hottie.
He surprises me often by doing or saying things that prove God’s working
in him constantly.
1.
God. Every single day he shows me more grace and
mercy than I could ever repay. I am so
grateful that I don’t have to because of who He was, is and always will be.
Paul says this to us in Philippians,
"12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
I have so much more than I will
ever need and I can be satisfied with that…FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.
