**OK, so I'm not the only one with these thoughts. You ask...you recieve. A KIR post about Wants and Needs. Join in on the Mr. Linky at the end!
Children have trouble distinguishing between those two things, wouldn't you say? My kids want everything they see at the store. Everything they see on commercials. Everything they see that someone else has. Earlier in the summer I threatened to not take them to anymore stores EVER because I was so sick of "the gimmes." It's not like they get stuff from me when they do that either, but still they try. None of the things they ask for are needs in my opinion. Food, water, shelter, and medical care...those are needs. Well, as it turns out, I have the same trouble as my girls.
Whenever our finances are in a crunch, I have a tendency to feel a bit sorry for myself. Some things are easy for me to do without. Others things, not so much. Even though we don't go on vacations every year or own the latest techno gadgets, or shop at expensive stores for the latest clothing...we have really never been without. We have had food. We have had water. We have had shelter and medical care.
So what's the problem? I'll tell you what I think: the problem is perspective.
My children love their toys and their room until we visit some one's house who has something cooler. My children wouldn't even know about many things that there are to have were it not for the TV. The truth is, they are mostly satisfied until they find out there are other things out there to be had.
Isn't it the same with grown-ups? We've had a lot of fun these last 6 months! We went to the beach numerous times, visited Moody Gardens, toured an old submarine and ship, rode the ferry, swam and swam and swam, played golf, went to lots of parks together...we've done a lot of fun things as a family! Then I heard about so-and-so's vacation and I felt bad for us. Why? Were we denied something that we needed? Certainly not!
Maybe it's the neighbor's pool, or their car, or their job--coveting our neighbor's stuff is far too easy to slip into--even for adults. But when we keep our eyes on the One who provides everything good, it gets much easier. If we would just stop looking around at the things of this world (which moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal) and look only to God, we would realize that we are blessed beyond measure. That example would surely be great for our children too, don't you think?
Do you have some thoughts about wants and needs? Sign up on the Mr. Linky below and share with the rest of us. This is apparently a hot topic! Make sure you link not just to your blog in general, but to the exact post you are writing or others will not be able to find it later. If you don't know how to do that, shoot me an e-mail. I once was also lost on that topic, but now I know the answer and I'll be happy to help you.
yet another post I need to read often.
ReplyDeleteI know, Rachel. Brenda always makes us think, huh?
ReplyDeleteGood post, Brenda. I have so much to say about this, and I almost wrote it in this comment and bored you and all your readers to death. Maybe I will just write my own post and link back to you sometime this weekend.
But, well said!
I am so glad you are my bloggy friend. I learn so much from you. :)
AMEN! I need to be reminded this. You stepped on my toes but I liked it. It was a stepping I need.
ReplyDeleteI am humbled that this post spoke to anyone. Especially when I wrote it from the realization that my selfish heart was upset we would be getting rid of cable. HELLO?? Does someone need a reality check? I think so. That is not exactly doing without.
ReplyDeleteGuess we all needed to hear it, huh?
I read your post, went ate lunch and read it again. I think it is a really good post. It is true and honest and real and we all need a good kick in the patootie reminder that we dont NEED all this stuff. I completely agree with what you said and to be honest I am still digesting. I have to think, and might post my own thoughts also, maybe mr. linki needs to come out again!
ReplyDeleteYeah! Brenda, can you somehow make this into at KIR post? I don't know how, though. That's okay, I will let you figure it out. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think this speaks to so many of us because of the way our world is today. Either everyone has everything or wants everything. We are living in an instant gratification society. It's hard NOT to covet.
You're right. I've noticed, since living overseas, that my contentment level has increased... or rather, that my negative self-comparisons have decreased.
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed that whenever I'm around someone who's recently come from the states, I feel very self-conscious about my clothes, my home, and my cooking... because I realize they've just come from the utopia land where everyone dresses like a TV show and the food is to die for and houses are freshly decorated according to all the latest cable channel shows.
All that to say, I think you're absolutely right-- that comparisons are killer, and we struggle with it just as much as our kids. I know I see that for sure in my own life.
I was listening to a christian women's radio program recently and they were talking about our tendency to compare and feel inadequate. They called it the "er" syndrome. Thinking that everyone else is happier, wealthier, prettier, thinner, and on and on it goes. Even as adults we're not immune. Thanks for Keepin' it real, Brenda!
ReplyDeleteI kind of think it's funny someone would be upset about having to get rid of cable...we haven't had it since we were married so I don't know what it's like anyway HAHA. We have a TV that we can't remember the last time it was turned on.
ReplyDeleteBut I get the point of the post and yes a lot of us have the "gimmies". I am currently buying new clothes because I just had a baby, and I want to be sure that I don't get as many clothes as I had last time. I need just a few skirts, jeans, dresses etc and one or two good pairs of shoes. I've been praying that the Lord will show me which clothes and accessories are right for me.
Anyhow I did a "Keeping it Real" post but I don't know if it is really the type of "Keeping it Real" post that people are looking for.
:-( I didn't even see that I did this all wrong. You can delete my link if you want since it's not what you were asking for. I read the whole post but I guess I didn't really "read" that bit...I was feeding a baby at the time LOL. Now I'm upset...this is the first thing like this I tried and I got it wrong.
ReplyDelete