Unfortunately, I sometimes fail to realize that other people see no connection at all. :)
So, just a disclaimer... this post is no different....
Today (2/26 - the day I started working on this post) is my firstborn's THIRD birthday, and for the life of me, I can't figure out where these three years have gone!!
We had a hard time conceiving Cohen, so his first birthday was HUGE!
Then, the next year, we were overwhelmed with our work at the boys' home and came to the realization that those residents were most definitely Cohen's closest confidants. So, we decided that as long as there was cake and a couple of presents, our 2 year old would have a great time! Chances were, he wouldn't hold it over our heads years down the road.
This year, since we once again find ourselves in a season of transition, we're doing just about the same thing. In a couple days, we are simply having a small family get-together with a "Cars 2" theme and cake. He's recieving presents from parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, and that's it.
While this may seem modest and maybe even borderline "sad" to some well-meaning Americans, I found myself sitting in my bedroom with his presents in front of me the other day, thinking, "He doesn't NEED any of this!"
I will say that his father and I (all 4 of his grandparents as well) do a pretty darn good job of buying him things that will help him developmentally. We don't like to buy junk. Every once in awhile, we'll throw in something cutsie and cheap (like a Mickey Mouse fishing game :)). But for the most part, his presents are books, clothes, and items that help him explore his imagination. Even still, compared to 90% of the world or more, he is absolutely, 100% spoiled ROTTEN!
Many times, as I go to grab one of my youngest, Ella's meals, I think 2 things:
1.) I really need to start making her baby food, because this is EXPENSIVE!!
2.) We are so blessed to live in a country where I can go to the grocery store and get Ella all the vitamins she needs in these little containers of food. So many mothers in other areas of the world struggle every day to make sure their 7 month old babies get all the nutrition they need each day, and it's a mindless chore for me.
These thoughts that cross my mind from time to time cause me to consider how we've simply lost perspective as Americans.
Now, I could make some very controversial points about how I don't buy into the idea that we ever were or are "a Christian nation", but I don't want to really want to get that argument started today. It's not a deal-breaker and it's not where I'm really going with this post.
I will say the following about this nation, however.....
We were founded on Christ-like morals and principles.
In God's sovereignty, despite the lives that have been, are, and continue to be lost, He has allowed the United States to become a powerhouse for the world.
We are tremendously fortunate in this country to practice ANY religion freely, especially Christianity, since it is forbidden in so many countries.
Our nation, and those from it, have done many good deeds for this world on a small and large scale.
Due to the security of our government and the preservation of our constitution, genocide, war, famine, etc. need not be on the forefront of our minds as citizens of this country.
However, we do suffer from one great atrocity......
GREED.
I've heard it said before that if the United States gave up something as simple as the producing and selling of ice cream for a year or just one year of Black Friday sales, the whole world would have clean water.
Sports stars make millions of dollars a year.
Politicians spend millions of dollars to beef up their campaigns.
People with, in my opinion, little to no talent, make ridiculous amounts of money just living their life in front of the camera and calling it a "reality show".
Our youth are being taught that money, fame, and this world's idea of success far outweigh humility and compassion.
Jesus is pretty hardcore when it comes to this greed/wealth issue:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24
"Soldiers also asked him, 'And we, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.' Luke 3:14
"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33
"For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25
I could go on and on... but let's just say that Jesus does not shy away from this discussion at all.
Even when we look in the Old Testament, there are several references to what the love of riches will bring....
While many think God punished Sodom for it's homosexual practices, Ezekiel 16:49 tells a different story:
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy".
Soo.... application???
It would be easy to throw our hands up and succumb to the comfort of this country. We could very easily come to the conclusion that what Jesus was asking is WAY TOO MUCH and that he couldn't expect us to live like that in 2012.
On the flip side, we could take the Bible and Jesus' words to the extreme, sell everything we own, and live amongst the homeless.
Now, don't hear me wrong. I definitely think Jesus clearly calls certain people to give up everything and go to the ends of the earth in His name. I also think that there are those to whom He gives much wealth in order to support those who are called out and to bless others richly in any number of ways.
I think he calls most of us, though, to live in the struggle....
When your spirit wrestles with AIDS in Africa, buying that new flat screen, starving children in South America, upgrading your iphone, and whether you would really give up EVERYTHING if He called you to do so, you know that you are living in the struggle and I really, really think that's where he wants us.
See, the more ( or less at times ) I look at Scripture, the more I realize that Christ rarely spoke in black and white, concrete statements. His desire was 1.) That we may know Him, and 2.) That we may open our eyes to the pain in this world and find the individual call He's placed on each of our lives to do something about it. He didn't come to give us rules and laws; He came to teach about His love and the best ways we can use the talents He gave us to express that.
Friends, we need to realize how rich we are. In this country, we need not look past our own lives for wealth. If you eat 3 meals a day, have clothes to put on your back, and any kind of roof over your head, you are extremely wealthy. When we turn on the television and are bombarded by what the "elite" (i.e.: ridiculously stupid rich) are doing or what they possess, we lose sight completely of what's really important.
I'm sure Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, as well as Mother Theresa, would tell us (if they could) that riches and fame don't matter when you're gone. They don't do anything for you when this life is over.
If you want to make a difference in this world so that others will know your name (although Colossians 3:17 speaks against this), at least do something for eternity; feed the homeless, house a single mother, help heal the sick who can't afford medical care. Be a Mother Theresa, not a Donald Trump.
Kick making money and fame out of your intentions and just MATTER; HAVE PURPOSE. You may or may not find yourself financially rich, but your spiritual wealth will exceed any expectations and will bring you so much joy.
We live in a greedy America. I challenge all of us to ask ourselves, "What's one thing I can do to fix my greed and to be grateful today?"
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