Thanksgiving Day 2017, I woke up anticipating the day. My youngest was home from college for a few days, and I knew that later in the day my oldest would be home as well. My mom, living only a couple of houses down from us, was hosting the clan for our Thanksgiving lunch! I only had one assigned dish. All of the shopping had been done. Everything was planned. I didn't have a worry in the world, except ruining the green beans. Life was good. And for those few moments of bliss, everything was going my way.
On this day of counting our blessings, giving thanks to God, and recognizing our gifts, I awoke to 46 emails reminding me of the Black Friday specials that were now infringing on my perfect and thankful Thanksgiving Thursday. And in my haste to delete those reminders of things I didn't have, things I didn't need, I had a brief moment of "want".
"Want" is something I've been avoiding this year. "Want" is something my family can't afford. We have "Needs". And those "Needs" have become my focus, our focus, and my saving grace. Those needs have kept me humble and helped me to give more of myself than I ever have.
I wonder how many families out there are like us... trying to get a kid through college, trying to live within our means, and trying to take care of our family. And how many of those people, like us, are struggling with the constant temptation to "fill a want" vs. "cover a need".
One of my favorite quotes concerning our "thirst for more" is from the book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"
- “If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. ...
- “Then he'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache.” ...
- “When he looks in the mirror, he might notice his hair needs a trim. ...
- “When he's finished giving himself a trim, he'll want a broom to sweep it up.
The message is clear, there will always be another want, no matter how many "wants" you fulfill.
In those 46 emails, everything I never knew I wanted was covered. Every discount, every product, every want. But none of them would or could fulfill my most important need.
My need will always be greater than my want. And that is why the only One I can trust with my needs is so much greater than I am.
So while I was thanking God for my gifts on Thanksgiving, I also thanked Him for my resolve. Because He's got my needs covered.
Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
