"SO MUCH....YET SO LITTLE"
Yesterday, I became more aware of how I am blessed beyond all measure and have “So Much...” As I pondered this at the night’s end and replayed the day’s events, I increasingly became sensitive to the fact that I have “So Much….Yet So Little.” Read on and you will see how the Lord touched my heart yesterday. May my mind and covetousness be changed thru the experience of “my yesterday”.
I traveled to a town quite a ways from home. As I took this road trip, I thought of how strange life is. We spend our lives trying so hard to figure out what life is truly all about. Some find Jesus and live life “more abundantly” thru the Hope of Salvation thru Him. Some struggle with many forms of “temporary satisfaction” as they hungrily seek for fulfillment—maybe its sex, drugs, alcohol, money, work…the list goes on. Some even believe that “he who has the most toys wins!”
As I journeyed away from home and went to my destination, I pulled into a trailer park. Now, I have nothing against this form of dwellings and I definitely do not discriminate or pre judge those that abide here.
As I pulled up to the trailer, I became nervous. My stomach did little flips as I saw the women gathered in a circle sitting in fold-up chairs awaiting my arrival. I stepped out of the van, wearing my work clothes and approached the ladies. One was dressed in dingy corduroy pants—later she explained that there were “meat chunks” on them because she wraps meat for a living—a T-shirt that had a grey hue to it and sneakers that were an off-brand. The children that were with her had pants on them that were about two inches too short for them and none of them were wearing socks…later she explained there weren’t any clean. The kitchen sink overflowed with dishes—and when I had used the bathroom she explained that they were out of toilet paper and were kinda just multi-using baby wipes.
While I drove home and even into the night I couldn’t help but think about the children at the trailer park. They didn’t ask for this life. They didn’t ask to have “used toys” and “hand me down” clothes that don’t fit. They didn’t ask to live in a trailer park and not have a car to go places. These poor children! In my heart, I wept. I felt sad that they had so little. I regretted having “So much.” I contemplated how fortunate I was that this was not the life I had to live. Passing thoughts of sending the children clothes and Christmas presents entered my head. I thought, despite the fact that I am a single mother of two kids we do not have to live this way. We are blessed beyond all measures. I was humbled.
I began to pray for them…everyone I had met and their children. Suddenly my eyes were open. Now, let me tell you what I saw.
As I entered the main drive, I was surrounded by gleeful, little people with great big grins—you know the ones as big as big gets! Their faces shown with joy—it’s as if the moon was casting beams directly onto their precious little faces. The sound of laughter filled the air as they excitedly ran to welcome me. I unrolled my window and they shouted “follow us, we’ll show you the way” and then some hopped onto bikes and others ran ahead of my van—and they caravanned me all the way to my expected location. As I sat around waiting and observing all the activity that surrounded me. I was welcomed and invited into this group for whoever I was. They sat and chatted with me like they had known me forever—as if I were one of their closest friends. I watched as all the children played with one another like they were all family. They stuck up for each other when “outside kids” tried to enter the territory and they had compassion on one another if one fell or got injured. I giggled watching some of the “messy-faced lil’ children” ramble around carrying their big ol’ bag of potato chips as they stumbled down the stairs following the big kids. I enjoyed seeing the “big kids” tend to the “lil messy faced children” as if they were their own! The love, care taking and protection that I witnessed were remarkable.
My heart smiled. Then it dawned on me. These children may have less “stuff” than I do—but they had so much love! I have “So Much…yet So Little!” My pastor said, “Everything we own, Owns us!” How true and how real this statement has become after journeying away for a couple hours into a different place.
My prayer is that I would be more thankful. My prayer is that I would love more and laugh often. My prayer is that I could teach my children to appreciate each other and people more than “stuff.” My prayer is that I will learn to enjoy love as much as God intends us to. He who has the most toys…definitely does not win!
