Part of it we blame on culture. Part of it we blame on “need.” Isn’t it interesting, that many of us, if we were being honest, would say that we have a hard time being content with the blessings we have? Instead of focusing on the multitude of blessings we have in our lives, we focus on what we lack.
This past summer we bought a new home. It’s a lovely home, with some absolutely unique features that I love. I love the space. I love the flow of the floor plan that opens up well from room to room without being completely open. I love the light that pours in through the well-placed windows. I love all the crown molding and wainscotting. I love my park-like backyard.
I could go on. Easily.
Despite the wonderful aspects of my new home – despite all the projects we have accomplished in the three and a half months we have lived here – I find that it is easy to focus on what I don’t have. You know what I mean? I focus on the fact that the house needs to be painted. There is no fireplace and I want one. We still haven’t gotten a hot tub put in the backyard.
I mean- in all seriousness – while I don’t believe it’s wrong to dream or wish for some of our wants – I do think it becomes a problem when we allow them to consume our thoughts. When our thoughts are filled in this way – it’s easy to forget the amazing blessings in the first place.
I use my house as an example, but is it any different with other blessings?
When I focus on the areas my spouse doesn’t meet all my expectations, I miss seeing the many amazing ways that he does – or areas he even exceeds them! I miss the blessing of that relationship.
When the pieces of my job that I don’t enjoy are the pieces that get the majority of my attention, I forget to see all the wonderful parts of the job that not only bless me but offer me a chance to be a blessing to others.
Whenever I allow my focus to land on the negative – the negative will consume my thoughts. And typically the negative thoughts from one piece of my life will often seep out into other areas of my life.
How much better would life be if we would make our blessings our focus? How much more content would we be? More joyful?
King Solomon penned these words in his great wisdom: “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.” (Ecclesiastes 6:4a) So how do I enjoy what I have? In part, I need to recognize that all that I have – everything that I have been given is a gift. Sure, I have worked and invested – but I am entitled to nothing. Everything I have is God’s – and He has gifted it to me. They are my blessings. Material possessions, relationships, talents – even time while I am still moving and breathing here on earth – all are gifts or blessings from my Father.
God’s blessings stem out of His great kindness and love. God has provided for all of my needs – and even so many of my wants.
As I am sitting here processing things, I realize that in a month or so, I will be giving gifts to my loved ones. I want to give gifts that they need and want. I want to give gifts that bless them. I want them to feel the love and time that went into each present they receive. How hurtful it would be to have my family open their gifts – receive them – and then immediately begin focusing on what they did not get. On what they wished they had gotten but did not.
Would this be different for God? Unfortunately, I think we often live that way. God’s gifts come with greater frequency than we even realize. They are certainly not limited to birthdays and Christmas! Yet I am sure that we receive from God and immediately move our focus to what we lack or wish was different in our lives. How sad!
Friend, let’s make a decision not to miss out on God’s goodness to us. Let’s make sure that we are giving Him the thanks and praise He deserves for His multitude of gifts and provision. Let’s enjoy what we have been given and stop the cycle of focusing on what we don’t have. Living that way will be yet another gift in itself!
Blessings!