Moving beyond feeling entitled, and we love you Justin!

As I was getting my workout in at the gym this morning I was thinking about how little my actions often truly reflect my words.  For example, I often tell my husband how appreciative I am of how hard he works to provide for the live we live.  I really don’t know how to describe the gratitude and admiration I have for this man.  He works long hours sacrificing time with our babies; he is often overstressed at work with a lot on his plate…yet when he walks through the door in the evenings he has the biggest smile on his face and jumps right into Daddy mode. When the kids are finally both asleep he goes about helping me clean up and prepare for the next day, and then he gets up the next morning and does it all over again.  He gets awakened each night by crying babies, he often eats a lukewarm dinner when his days push too long, at least once each week the kids are in bed when he arrives home, and most every morning he’s gone well before they arise. Yet, he never complains. We live a beautiful life afforded by all of his sacrifices, we have a gorgeous home filled with all we need, and I get to stay home with our children and see them grow and learn. And just as quick as I tell him how much I appreciate him, I often too easily and quickly give him unintended grief for the long hours he works, for not being able to be present, and for the way I feel when our family has to live life without him. That got me thinking… how often do my actions truly SHOW what I feel?

How often do I show my husband that I appreciate him as much as I say? How often do I show others I love Christ to the magnitude that I do? How often do I show those in my life that they hold the place they do in my heart? These days it’s all too easy to feel entitled. The world we live in tells us we are, in fact, entitled. Yet, God shows us we are entitled. God declares it, claims it, and ordains that very fact.  If we live for the world, our actions often reflect the world. We give in to loose lips that easily say things we don’t mean but seldom assemble words that truly show our heart. We feel entitled or that we deserve more, and put our needs and desires above all else. We easily succumb to those feelings that each day, and each task is a competition of sorts; or that we are owed something by others. On the contrary, when we live for God, we can delight in the fact that He makes us entitled.

Living for God allows us to bask in the goodness of Him.  It allows us to make our choices based upon His foundation in our lives and releases us from the “me, myself, and I” mentality that shapes our world and cripples our kindness.  In growing deeper with a relationship with Christ we are able to eliminate the obstacles that prevent us from being kind, being loving, and being more than just talk.  He allows us to dig down deep and become a better version of ourselves.  It is in a firm walk with Christ that we develop the ability to become more than all talk, and care more about loving and living through our actions.  For in Him, we lose the need to feel entitled, and take delight in the fact we actually are entitled through His blood. Don’t forget that today! Who and what are you living for?

By the way, thank you Justin. We love you for all you are and all you do! XOXO.