Today’s reading (Jan 6) can be summed up rather nicely…. Quit driving yourself to depression looking for the “good life”, and start living it! Don’t take the relationships in your life for granted, because you are on a quest for that “perfect” life that you think every has…. Reminds me of a John Lennon quote – Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
Also reminds of a verse, actually a bunch of verses, in the Bible. Matthew 6:19-34. You all this passage, even if you don’t think you do…. this is one that starts of talking about the thieves and the moths – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven… For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” The passage goes on from there to discuss worry, and how we don’t need to worry for things such as clothing or food or drink because “Your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
But before you start thinking the Lord is supposed to come down and hand you clothes and food on a platter… We have a job to do ourselves! The very next verse says, ” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added onto you.” (Matthew 6:33) So if I strive to follow God’s Word, He make sure I have everything I need. (note: that’s need not want!)
All this reminds me of this testimonial that FLYladys sends out about once or twice a year. A woman died. When she died, every one of this woman’s worldly possessions fit into the trunk of a car. But the day of her funeral, the church was filled to overflowing with people whose lives she had touched. I’d say she lived the good life.
So what does all this mean for me? I need to appreciate what I have right now. Does this mean I’m going to stop complaining about this current house? Probably not. I’ll still dream of ways to make my own house better whenever we can afford it. But I will appreciate the roof over my head, and the central heat/ac…. And I probably won’t stop dreaming of the day when all three of children are potty-trained… But I can appreciate the diapers I change now, because they mean my kids are still small…. and I will definitely miss these days when they are gone.