I am materialistic. There I said it. It is now out.
I have more than one Coach purse and I want another one.
I have enough clothes to wear a different outfit everyday of the year, and I daydream about going shopping weekly.
I have a safe place to live and a roof over my head along with nice furniture, but yet I dream at night about purchasing a new home complete with several flat screen TV's, and room full of beautiful brand new furniture.
I am human, and selfishly I always want more.
I do not think it is bad to have any of the things listed above, but when I allow it to become an obsession in my life is when it becomes bad.
Lately God has been working on my heart, slowly showing me that there is this great big world out there beyond my little life.
You mean its not just about me? What a concept!
There are children who are starving, families who are dying one by one from Aids, children who have to begin working at a young age to help support their family.
After feeling God's leading I visited the Compassion International website and instantly become involved. There are children out there who are suffering far more than I can comprehend. Children who know more hardship than I can even imagine.
And here I am, worried about what shoes will go with my new black sweater.
Looking at these children's faces I could see their stories, their lives, their hardship. I have had the privilege of visiting some of the countries these children are from, and I have gotten just a glimpse of what kind of life these children live.
After looking at these children's pictures and reading some of their stories, suddenly my desires became so small. My heart began to ache for them.
I have been blessed in this life, yet I always want more. I have the means to support a child, but my first thought was: "Thats $32 a month, do we want to give that up?"
But my desire to serve God and to serve the nations exceeds my desire to get a new shirt next week.
Does this mean I am free of selfishness? Heck no. I'm sure it is something that I will always struggle with, Next time I'm on people.com and see the newest fashion trends I will want to run to the mall as fast as my little Honda can take me.
Yet, God is broadening my vision and opening not only my eyes but also my heart.
I am materialistic, but I'm working on it!
Oh, Compassion International....don't those pictures break your heart?! I layed in bed sobbing for seriously an hour. It really messed me up - in the greatest way.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I sponsored a child through Compassion International when I was in high school, and Pete and I have been thinking of sponsoring one together now.
ReplyDeleteMeg we have a compassion kid named Milion Eskew. I just love him. I was always a little skeptical of what $32 a month would really help until living here in India. My friend Sathya's dad died when she was little. She told me that if someone had not sponsored her there is no way that she would ever of had food or any education. Even more importantly she heard about Christ through Compassion too!! It was pretty cool to learn that it really does make a huge difference!
ReplyDeletePowerful... That's so awesome Megan!! What a great time of year to think of others and make a change in your life.
ReplyDeleteVery good post! I am in the same boat of materialism. I am slowly trying to get help, ha! I love that you went through with helping out a less fortunate person/child. I always say that I would like to do something like that, but I've never followed through with it! Very inspirational :)
ReplyDeleteAh, everything in this post is such a good reminder. I struggle with the same things and need God's help in sending me little reminders.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love reading your blog!
This is great! I think we all could use some working on in this area...I know I could. Thanks for your honesty and encouragement to put others needs before our own.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Faith
This is why I love you, Megan~! Thanks for sharing your heart....I am the same way, I promise! But isn't it neat how, when you let God have control of your heart, HE makes changes that make you even happier than things!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my friend!
We talked about selfishness in Sunday School yesterday. I wonder if God is trying to tell me something....
ReplyDelete:)
The cutting board is from Kirklands. I think it would make some great Christmas presents for those hard to buy for ladies and good shower gifts. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this...I'm working on it too! Grant and I are going to a sending school class about "Managing Money God's Way", and it's tough.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the comment on my post, and I get SO scared too! It doesn't help that last week when he was gone there was this strange looking man that hid behind some bushes when Banks and I were on a walk after dark. It was just a little bit scary! I didn't even want to let Banks outside for the rest of the night for fear that he was in the back yard!!
Girl I will confess back that I am too materialistic, I online window shop obsessively and daydream of shopping also. Compassion International is such a great organization, our church got involved a few years ago and adopted over 800 children!
ReplyDeleteI think you had the guts to say something many of us are guilty of. Thanks for being honest, and I am also trying to work on realizing that I don't need more all the time. Hope you have a good week :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! Garth and I helped at a soup kitchen yesterday and it really put things in perspective! Compassion International is an awesome organziation and we are thinking of sponsoring a child too!
ReplyDeleteYour honesty... that is what I LOVE about you!! You are such a tiny thing with such a big heart.. I miss you!
ReplyDeleteMegan- When I read your post just now it really hit home.. I could also relate with everything that you wrote about. I love your honesty and I really think blogging about stuff really just puts it all out there and helps us women not feel soo alone and let's us know that we all struggle with the same issues on a daily basis. Thank you so much for your kind words and for commenting. I was very spetical about blogging about my worry but I am really glad I did. I already ordered the book your mentioned... just ordered a bit ago! I cant wait to read it! Thanks for the suggestion. Thanks for being a great blog friend.... its nice to meet you:) Thank you for the comment, its good to know that others are out there just like me! After we are all brothers and sister because we are all here because of the Lord!
ReplyDeleteYes, Blake and Miranda are totally dating and have been for a few years.. Blake just recently bought a home in Tishamingo. He used to live in Nashville but said he missed Oklahoma so much he had to move back..lol. How funny is that.. I know this is silly but I am nervous about their upcoming tour..together. I read once that they have dated for so long because they are not always together..um, I am thinking a tour would make them always together.. DOn't you?
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