I have to tell you guys a story from a podcast I was listening to just this past week. The podcast is called "Fierce Marriage," and has been my favorite for the past couple of months. For preface, the couple that produces it are Ryan and Selena, and they have two young daughters. In general, they focus on gospel centered conversations surrounding all things relationships and marriage. In their most recent post, they shared a story about their daughter, and man did it strike a chord. I'll do my best to give you the synopsis, but if you want to hear the whole thing, here's the link to "Art of Appreciation." Essentially, their daughter, age four, was being babysat at another house for the evening. When Ryan picked her up, she was just devastated (a little tired) but devastated nonetheless. She went on and on and on about how much fun she had at the sitter's, and how she wishes she could live there. She wished that all the toys that were there could be hers, and even the extent that she could have two mommies." Ryan, was heartbroken. Not because his daughter was looking for a replacement (I mean she's four, and really needed a nap) but because she was going through something we struggle with every day as adults. Coveting. Some of us feel this in forms of craving, longing for, yearning for, lusting for, envy for. And some of us start feeling it at, yes, even age four. If you want to hear how the story ends (it's a really sweet ending) go ahead and listen to the podcast, but for now, I'll give you another version of that same story. For me this was a huge eye opener. I by no means think I am a perfect human being, but I feel like I know what categories of sin are hardest for me (Impatience, selfishness, control issues etc.). But when I was reminded of the definition of coveting I cringed and thought to myself "Let's add that to the list of struggles." But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by their own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death Today, coveting is an everyday occurrence. We don't even think about it when we do it, and we do it ALL THE TIME, and I catch myself doing it most often on, you guessed it, social media. Log on to instagram, see everyone's perfect 4x4 images of life. Log on to Facebook, everyone is accomplishing something. Snapchat, everyone is always doing something fun. The Discover More feed on Instagram might as well be titled "Covet More". I felt sick as I came to these realizations. How often do I wish my life was something else? That my hair was prettier, that I lived where the grass was greener, that I wish I had gone to school somewhere else. How much time do I wish for things that have already been set in stone? And how many times do I forget that for every decision I already made, it got me exactly here. Here: with a husband I love, a puppy I adore, a roof over my head with my bestie, a job that makes me better. Am I really wishing for something else??? I was able to go home last week to hang out with my younger siblings and attend the church I grew up in. During worship I was FLOODED with gratitude. I remember going to church for the first time my senior year (That's right, it took me that long to even willingly step foot in a church,) and even then, I sat in the back corner on the floor. I couldn't bring myself to sit with the rest of the kids, and the second the worship music ended, boom, I was up and out the door. Now? That same girl has served on three mission trips, one campus ministry, and volunteers to be on worship team, And disclaimer, I am NOT saying I have the perfect life, remember last week, I threw a box of bandaids at Luke. What I'm saying is how can I not be grateful! Grateful that life worked out exactly how it was supposed to. Grateful for all the progress. Grateful that if great things can come from bad times, then how many amazing things can come from the best times! How different would our lives look if we were more focused on less on coveting, and more on being content. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I don't know what this looks like for you, but for me, it was to stop comparing my life to everyone else. To create the standard for contentment as my life. If it is not my life, then it can't compare, because no one else can have the exact same story as me.
No one else can have the exact same story as you either. And that's what makes this life so intricately beautiful. The grass is never greener. Never. It's just different on the other side. You can go and visit, but you should never wish to live there. |
Purpose:To express, explain, and exclaim the lessons life continually throws at me, and my take on how to deal. Archives
December 2021
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