9-26-21 All and Nothing
Quote: “Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.” – George Bernard Shaw
This quote resonates with 2 very pivotal points in my life journey: my college years and my present life.
Oh those college years! I reminisce about my college years so fondly. Freedom and independence were the theme. I was fiercely on a mission to do whatever it took to get my degree as cheaply and quickly as possible. I wanted to be a teacher more than anything in the world but I also knew time and money were not on my side. What used to be a 4-year degree had slowly turned into a five year process. I was rich in love but definitely not in money. I realized that if I wanted to have as less of debt as possible, I was going to have to work my butt off to get done in four years.
I worked as a cashier at the cafeteria, I worked the front desk in my dorm, I answered the phone at the college phone center, I ran on the track team, I babysat and house sat for many families, I taught music at preschools, I ran a summer program at a daycare center, and eventually worked my way up to be the student secretary in the college of education office. I saved every penny I could for gas, food, and rent. I took out loans and applied for every college scholarship I could. If the max was 21 credits, I took 21. I had a drive that wouldn’t stop.
What I lacked in material things, I made up for with family and friends and lots of life lessons. I had to dig deep in the patience well when one of my roommates got a brand new car handed to her, in addition to all of her college tuition being paid for. I had to patiently wait for a phone call after all of the job applications and resume had been sent out to every district in the state. Patience was all I had because I didn’t have much.
Fast forward to now. My husband and I have successful teaching careers, 3 healthy children, and a roof over our heads. We have money to pay our bills, money to save, and extra money to travel. We are not lacking for much. If we really went through our house, we would agree we have way more than we need to survive.
So if we don’t show our boys how to give of our time, talents, and treasures to those who have less, we are showing them that “living” is all about “acquiring”. We must teach them what having an attitude of gratitude looks like. TIME: How it feels when you give up your free evening to go help someone who is struggling financially, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. TALENTS: How it effects others when you use your gifts and abilities to help others who are less fortunate. TREASURES: What it means to give 10% of your income to a faith organization or good cause, not because you have to but because you want to.
Paul expresses these same sentiments in his letter to a church in Philippi. He says in Philippians 4:12, “I know what is to be in need, and I know what it is like to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
He totally gets our struggle because he was human and lived on the same earth we do. He walked in our shoes and dealt with the same issues. It gives me comfort knowing he struggled like I did and do. As he says, the secret is contentment. Being patient when things are hard and helping others when things are good. It’s all about your attitude, whether you are in the valley or on the mountaintop. You get to decide! Don’t just make the best of it. Don’t just try to survive. Thrive. Enjoy the journey!
