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Missing Your Dream Because You Can’t Keep Up with the Jones’

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Most of us, at least on a small scale, are trying to keep up with the Jones’. It is almost impossible not to have some feelingss of “I wish I could have” when the media is constantly telling us we need more. As adults we really should be able to know better than to listen to the media because all they are trying to do is sell us something. They don’t really want whats best for us or even care whats best for us.

Those of you who have pets or children may have observed some behavior that is similar to how we act when we want something. You set two bowls of the same dog food down for two dogs and they seem to always want the other dogs food. Horses grazing in a pasture will stretch as far as they can to reach the grass on the other side of the fence which happens to be the same grass on his side of the fence. Two young children will be playing with the same toy but at some point they have to see if the other one is different or better. Is this behavior starting to sound familiar?

I can relate to this type of behavior because I do it all the time but it usually happens in my thoughts not necessarily my actions. I have a great house, I live in a great area, I have horses I have always dreamed of having but still I look over at my neighbors and wish I could have that nice white fencing or that new horse trailer (to name a few). Why is it I can’t be content with what I have? Why do I allow such thoughts to be entertained?

I am actually living my dream. I live in a nice house on a couple of acres, my kids have room to roam. We have dogs, cats, chickens and horses. As a child, I dreamed of this type of lifestyle yet I am here and at times my thoughts turn to “I wish I could have more”. My neighbor who has more things entertains these same thoughts and wonders why. I believe as humans we are generally selfish beings. If our mamas didn’t teach us to share when we were younger we never would have learned it. Our parents had to teach us to be giving and we had to learn selflessness.

So as adults we must train ourselves to be content if we have not mastered it. I must train myself to not entertain thoughts of “want” that take away from recognizing the blessing I already have.  I am blessed and I need to show God my appreciation by being content and thankful.

August 13, 2007 | Filed Under Life Goals 

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