"We can only stay for a little while," we told Ana as we pulled into our in-laws house this Independence Day. Although we had plans to hang out for a bit by the camp fire, we told our daughter that she was not to ask to stay. Her cousins were camping out and this was a special memory for their family. We made our own memories today and we would have to go home when it was dark.
"Why can't I stay?", she yelled as we left. "I never get to camp out!" "It's not fair!" Even now, she sleeps in a pop-up tent on her bed. We had a long talk on the way home about being thankful and not coveting what others had. We even sang her the lyrics to this song.
I've been thinking the past few days as we have posted good news on social media for the world to see. We are having baby #3 and Travis won a music competition today. I watched the number of likes go up and wondered why some of our "friends" chose not to share in our happiness. Do you ever do the same? Never.
One hundred and sixty likes and it feels like it is not enough, cause so and so that we haven't been in touch with in 3 years didn't hit the like button. Or maybe it is just me and they haven't been on Facebook because it's a holiday. They could have not seen our post on our pop-ups. Or maybe, they are jealous. How ridiculous! How possible! Although I know this is not all truth, my mind naturally lends itself to its' selfish ways.
I'm gonna get real for a minute. Have I not been jealous while reading posts and counting the "likes" of others? I have often thought about how unfair it was that so and so was at the beach or better yet, Disney World. I've coveted houses,photography,chocolate cake, friendships, and blogs. And secretly, I wish they were all just being fake. After all, didn't we post family pics at the beach last week while we fought all the way there? Such a perfect little family!(Sarcasm)
Here's the point. Maybe it's just me, or maybe not. As humans, we are generally not content with what we have been given. In the garden, Eve could have had anything she could want....paradise at her exposure. Yet, the enemy convinced her that God was holding out on her. In actuality, he was protecting her from the one tree that could cause her harm. It's the lie we all will fall prey to if not careful. "My life is not good enough, because you have more than me."
We can all judge a book by it's cover or a life by a facebook page. No one truly knows the battles we faced when Travis decided to pursue his gift of music. No one knows how sick I've been carrying this baby. No one knows we yelled at each other on the way to our perfect beach pictures. Well, now you do. Likewise, I do not know your story by a picture you post and it is much better for me if I choose to be thankful for what I have and happy for what God has blesssed you with.
So tonight, I choose to be thankful. Thank you, Lord for loving me and my family and for giving us an opportunity to celebrate another day of freedom in our country. Thanks Travis for being such a good daddy. I can't wait to meet our little one. Ana and Judah, you are wonderful children, thanks for being so good for me today while daddy was singing and for kissing my belly and talking to your little brother or sister in there. Thanks, family for keeping our secret until we told the world. And thank you, friends for "Liking" our status and rejoicing with us the past few days.
I too will be watching your page, your life, looking for ways to lift you up when things aren't going so well and cheering you on when they do! Because just like the song says, "A thankful heart is a happy heart."
Philippians 4
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
