Give Us This Day

My devotion from today really hits home in reminding me of how easy it is to wish our lives away if we aren't careful. I remember when Trey Casey was a baby. Being a new stay at home mom was a tough adjustment. Not only was I trying to figure out how to handle a new baby, I was trying to do it with half of the income coming in. I remember being tired and overwhelmed for a good part of the infant stage and realized one day that I was saying, "if only he will sleep through the night". But that wasn't enough so I moved on to "if only he will will learn to walk, my life will be easier". Then, "if only he will potty train". Get the picture? One day it's like a light bulb went off in my head and I had "if only'd" my precious sons first year right out the door! 

I stopped and made a vow to myself that day that I would never again wish away any part of this life God has given me! Have the years been rough? Occasionally yes, but what I have learned from this is that those are the times that have brought the most meaning into my life. Why? Because those are the times that mattered the most! Those are the times that my little family had to draw together and figure things out together. Even now, as I have two kids in college and we quite frankly live pay check to pay check, I don't wish away one second of this moment in time. I've seen my kids grow and mature and have come to an understanding of hard work, money and sacrifice. They have a new appreciation of the things that John and I have provided for them and we all work together as a team to get through these things now. 

I appreciate everything life has to offer me, it's all from God and it all has a very specific purpose in my character development. I hope He likes the person I am becoming! 

Nothing on Earth Satisfies

We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

- 1Timothy 6:7-8

Satisfied? That is one thing we are not. We are not satisfied.

We take a vacation of a lifetime. We satiate ourselves with sun, fun, and good food. But we are not even on the way home before we dread the end of the trip and begin planning another.

We are not satisfied.

As a child we say, If only I were a teenager. As a teen we say, If only I were an adult, As an adult, If only I were married. As a spouse, If only I had kids.

We are not satisfied. Contentment is a difficult virtue. Why?

Because there is nothing on earth that can satisfy our deepest longing. We long to see God. The leaves of life are rustling with the rumor that we will-and we won't be satisfied until we do.

When God Whispers Your Name