It’s that time of year again, where the stores are all packed and ready to go for the infamous “Black Friday.” The Thanksgiving meal, which has been slaved away at for hours, has been eaten by all and the turkey has left the kids snoozing away in the afternoon. Grandpa’s not far behind, sitting in the Lazyboy rocker. Fathers, Uncles, the male siblings and cousins are cheering away at their annual football teams, bantering back and forth for their team to win! And us women? What are we doing? We are sitting around the cleaned kitchen table trying to decide which sale is best. What time will we be leaving? 3am or 5am? We want to get there to be the first in line to grab the latest and greatest gift of the season. Ever ask yourself what the need is for all the “stuff”? Buy the fanciest wrapping paper, only for it to end up in the trash; it’s a bit wasteful but so many of us do it year after year. What is very apparent here, is that so many people aren’t happy with what they have. They must have more. But does it REALLY make us happy?
Paul explains in Philippians 4:11, “I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.” Paul’s growth in understanding and being content with what he had didn’t happen overnight; nor will it happen with you and me. We must lean on God’s will, understanding and most of all patience.
Now, I am no stranger to wanting what everyone else has. Unfortunately, my daughter has adapted this as well. We both want the newest styles when it comes to our clothes. When it comes to “things,” my daughter desires the newest electronic. She has been bugging me for the last year that she deserves to have a cell phone; I’m not certain why a 10-year-old would need a cell phone at her age, so she remains without. My wants and desires tend to revolve around certain new camera lenses, or a new Nikon camera. But that takes some serious saving up for. Heck, I'm sure the spouse would love a winning lotto ticket for either himself, or me, to take care of all the stacks of bills that keep piling up (wouldn't we all love that?)!
But will all those things really make me happy? The plain and simple answer: no. They come with instantaneous feelings of pleasure. But those feelings fade. And once again, we are face to face with discontentment. I’ve mentioned it before in other writings, that when things start to go bad, we blame God. When discontentment makes its way to our doorstep, disbelief sets in, and we start to think God is withholding something(s) from us. Some of us then, in turn, blame God for not giving us what we “think” we want or deserve.
Psalm 116:17 says, “I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray.” (CEV version) I like how this verse shows that I should sacrifice my wants and needs, and instead PRAY that God will fulfill all the “desires of my heart.” Luke 12:34 states, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
When we constantly focus on other things, we miss out on what God is blessing us with today! Our time here is so short as is.
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14. I would rather focus on today and the issues I’m facing today, than stress over what might happen tomorrow, or later in the week. And I’ll be thankful for where God gives me grace today vs. tomorrow. Savor every tasty morsel of the day, as if you were enjoying your favorite dessert. Let’s view our lives one day at a time, and learn to appreciate them, because we cannot replicate today – only in our memories.
So, black Friday. Sigh. Being that I will stuff myself with turkey and all the fixings on Thanksgiving, shopping at the wee hours of morning will not happen for me, or my daughter. Sleeping in sounds more enjoyable honestly! Instead, I will trust God and pray for HIS PROVISIONS he sees necessary for my life. I have year old (or maybe multiple year old) wrapping paper that can be used, I have a Christmas tree with ornaments that have been collected over the years with memories attached to them, I have yarn & the knowledge of crocheting up a hat, mittens and/or scarf for the gift of homemade (nothing better than that, in my own opinion!). These are things that God provides. So, no need to get lack of sleep and out amongst the crowded stores. Let’s thank God for what we do have – a morning breath, a warm bed and cozy home, food on our table, our families and our faith.
Be thankful. Be content. Be blessed.
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