Get This Off My Chest

Let me get this off my chest!

What is truly important in life? Is it what we own, who we love, where we live, what Church we attend, how many cars we have, how many Bible verses we can quote......

I have been struggling with this thought lately. Our society instills in us one thing....Our Churches another....Our family possibly another.......is there a right or wrong to what is important in life?

It is so funny looking back on how I was raised and thinking about the things I want to teach my children. As a child, I never felt like I ever was without, but compared to others...we definitely didn't have as many material things. Did I get to have the newest Nintendo system every Christmas....No. Did I have a closet full of Limited Too clothing....No. Did my mother say "no" to many things I asked for.....YES! But did I truly go without......No!

I feel truly blessed to have been raised the way I was. Am I saying my parents are perfect....no....sorry Mom and Dad....but I truly believe that they ALWAYS had my best interest at heart. My mom stayed home to raise my sisters and me. This was a SACRIFICE to not have 2 incomes, but they felt it was more important! My parents chose to send my sisters and me to a private school, Kindergarten through 12th grade. This too was a SACRIFICE especially only on 1 income! We didn't go on week long family vacations to the beach every year. This was a SACRIFICE because we know time away is always great! We didn't have cable or internet until I was in High School! We didn't eat out every other night.....We didn't have a brand new vehicle ever 3 or 4 years.....BUT I never felt like I was ever without!

You always hear your parents say.... You have so much more than I ever had growing up! Well....why is it that parents feel their children need to have more than they did? They got this far and are fine....why do parents feel that material things or giving....giving...and more giving...is what is most important for their child? What happened to children working for things they want....earning something! Why do adults feel like the best you can do for your child is to constantly give them EVERYTHING they want? Is it because the parents feel guilty....or that they feel material things is what makes their child happiest....or that they are so tired of hearing their child beg that is is easier to just give them something to shut them up? What is most important in life? Is it the time we spend with our children or the time our children spend with the material things we can give them?

I know for everyone...what is most important is different....but make a list for yourself.

Does it start with the brand name of jeans you have on, the number of carats in your diamond, how much you can spend on a night out or in one store?

OR

Does it start with being there for your child on a day they are sick and have to stay home, having quality time with your husband that doesn't require one of you holding a remote control, enjoying a Sunday with family and friends at your local church, watching your baby take its first steps.....watching your baby do all its firsts!

A constant thought that goes through my head to help me decide what might be important or not is.....Can I take it with me? Am I saying that I don't love nice things....No....I do! But at what point do you make a SACRIFICE? At what point is something higher on my list.

This past Sunday, the Gospel was from Mark 10:17-30: (This is just the 1st part)

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,

knelt down before him, and asked him,

"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments:

You shall not kill;

you shall not commit adultery;

you shall not steal;

you shall not bear false witness;

you shall not defraud;

honor your father and your mother."

He replied and said to him,"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,"You are lacking in one thing.

Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor

and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

At that statement his face fell,

and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

So much easier said then done....do you not agree? But WHY? Why do we put so much importance into our earthly "things"? This is one thing I want to work on so much and pray about more than anything else! I think the sooner I can find happiness in God, my husband, my child, my family, my friends...rather than on material things....the sooner I can truly understand what happiness is!

Okay....I got it off my chest! Thanks for listening!