Deserving

I enjoy pampering as much as the next lady.  But I wonder, what exactly do we think we deserve in life?  A weekly pampering session at our favorite spa? A nice “self-cleaning” house with a big “no-maintenance” yard? A drop-dead gorgeous husband who waits on us hand and foot? Our own personal assistant who helps us with our housework, clothing selections, and hair/makeup each day? The ability to eat what we want and still have the body of Jillian Michaels?

We’re capable of dreaming of a fantasy life where everything falls naturally into place without a hitch and we are given everything we could ever want in life. Let’s face it, we all want to reach for the stars! But if we’re not careful, we’ll find that our head has been stuck in the clouds while life was going on all around us.

In Philippians 4:11b-12, Paul says “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Yet He knows it is God who gives Him strength in every circumstance.

Job, though forced to face greater challenges than most of us will ever know, found the strength and faith to say “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

I’m not necessarily a “cat person”, but we did have one. Her name was Annie. Not only did Annie require IAMS catfood to keep her digestive system calm, she also apparently required a certain kind of litter…

There was a covered litter box and an open-topped large tote full of clean litter. And yet I’d catch her going on the floor. Apparently, she would not use the type of litter that resembles a sandy texture and she also apparently would not use the litterbox if there was any baking soda in it.

I realize you can’t expect a cat to be “grateful”, but this was a cat that we rescued from the animal shelter! She thought she deserved $10/bag catfood and special litter in her TWO litter boxes? She should’ve just been thankful she had a home and a life! And the thing is, she knew she was doing wrong too! She’d run from me when I’d try to discipline her for it.

Ah, what a life-lesson there! We’ve all been ‘rescued’ and deserve nothing but death for our shortcomings, failures, and sins. We’ve been given more than we could ever ask for or deserve, yet we act like my cat. “God, I know you gave me THAT, but it’s not the kind I wanted so I’m not using it! I’m gonna make my own mess, I’m gonna do it the way I want to, and when You try to discipline me or get me back on track, I’m gonna RUN!”

God, help us keep our focus on all we’ve been given, to approach You with grateful hearts, and allow You to use everything You give us for Your glory!