Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said, “Go, Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Sell everything? Give? Heaven? Follow?
Sounds crazy. I am in.
I have lost a lot since 2012. I am choosing not to be the victim anymore though. And to be honest, I had already begun to downsize my belongings before I met my second husband. I had my condo up for sale before I met him because it was just too expensive to live there. I wanted a simpler life. When I met my now ex, he wanted the same things. We planned to tour the country together and promote his music dreams. Selling my condo was just the beginning. When he decided to quit our marriage, we were living in a travel trailer. Now had I known he was going leave, I probably wouldn’t have downsized to the extreme that I did.
BUT. There is a reason for everything. God’s plan is always greater than ours!
Fast-forward two years and I am slowly building my life back together. I WANT things! I want to replace some of the comforts that I was used to having in the past. I WANT a leather couch. I WANT a desk. I WANT a new computer. I WANT a dresser and a nightstand. I WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT! But you know what? I do not NEED any of those things. I could sleep outside in a tent on the ground or in my car if I had to. I have learned to do without. I have learned the meaning of humility. I am learning to be content where I am with what I have.
Growing up and even in my adult life up until just a few years ago…I had it all. I was so blessed and had NO CLUE. Now I appreciate EVERYTHING. When I go to the grocery store and come home and open the refrigerator to see all of the food I bought I regularly catch myself saying OUT LOUD (to my cats 😉 ) “WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF THIS GOOD FOOD!!!” My cat meows at me in agreement. Even he knows!
By lightening the load of my earthly belongings I have made more space in my heart for love and compassion that spills out of me for God’s glory. I would definitely prefer to be defined by those characteristics than by the material things that OWN ME…things that mean nothing once I am gone. As the saying goes, the best things in life are free.
Hebrews 13:5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For god has said, “I will never fail you, I will never abandon you.”
Lord, please help us to remember that we are Your servants. Help us to let go of our WANTS and instead fill us with Your love so that all we desire is to follow You. Help us to be content where we are with what we have. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings! SHINE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!
Stacey ~ iamalive