Appreciation

I was driving my 16 year old daughter home from a party last week when we struck up a conversation. I don't really remember how it started but I was telling her how much I appreciated her and her values. Earlier she had texted me to tell me that she was ready to come home...fairly early...because she wasn't quite comfortable there. The girls who were having the party were "privileged" and lacked nothing monetarily but they were lacking in other aspects of their lives. Jennie wasn't really sure what was going to go on and she just didn't want to be there. Thank God...literally....
She actually left before they ate...and before the birthday cake...so she was hungry. I told her I'd be happy to go to a fast food place and get her something...and she quickly agreed.
Afterwards, we were headed home and I told her how much I loved her and that if I had lots of money, I'd get her anything she wanted. She laughed and said, "I don't want anything except this chicken sandwich!"
I thought about it for a minute and then said, "I'm glad I don't have LOTS of money because then you wouldn't be the way you are."
I probably would have spoiled her...and spoiled her siblings along the way. She appreciates everything she gets. Sure, she has different tastes than I do and sometimes I pick out a skirt that she really thinks is horrible...but she is not demanding. I appreciate THAT!
You might think that I am bragging, maybe I am, but I'm not intending to do so.
This dear daughter of mine is not perfect...we have our disagreements from time to time but I am so happy with how she is turning out. Currently she is driving me crazy asking me to sponsor another child from a third world country.
Recently she decided that she would go for two days...maybe it was 36 hours...and not eat. She asked permission first and told me that she wanted to know what it was like to truly be hungry. She sat at the table with us for meals but didn't eat. She didn't make a big deal of it...she just didn't eat.
Everything that is important to her right now centers around helping children in Africa. I remember when she was just a little girl, she was up late with me and an info-mercial came on our tv about sponsoring a child from another country. She cried and wanted to do that even then.
My little missionary.
I know that God gave her the heart that she has but I think that if she grew up with everything at her fingertips she wouldn't be as responsive to His tugging of her heart.

I think that there have been times in my heart that I was so much more appreciative of things that I was given than at other times. When I was a single mother, we didn't have a kitchen table. We prayed about it and just did without for a while. I was working in a Christian daycare and one of the ladies there said that she had a table that she didn't need anymore. I was just thrilled! To be honest, it wasn't very pretty...but it was perfect for us and given to us out of love from the lady and from God. It was just right for us to use and for my children to do their crafts on. How we appreciated and loved that old table! And loved God even more for giving it to us!
Over and over again, God supplied our need.

There were times that someone did something secretly for us and it was a blessing.

Other times I would find a five or ten dollar bill in my purse or pocket that I had never missed but suddently had turned up when I really needed it.

One day, I found a FIFTY dollar bill that was given to me for Christmas by my parents. I didn't know that I hadn't already spent it but there it was, in the Christmas card just when I needed it.
My daughter was attending a Christian school at the time and told of it during prayer and praise time. The teacher was unimpressed. He said, "It was only fifty dollars." ONLY FIFTY DOLLARS??? That was a huge amount at that time in our lives. I don't ever want to get to that mentality and overlook a gift from God...or anyone else for that matter.

I guess that's why I started this post with the word "appreciation." Sometimes when we have a lot of things, we don't appreciate what we get. (Like those little "miracle" finds at the Goodwill Store!) When we have everything we think we need or want, we are actually robbing ourselves and possibly God of those miracles and blessings in our lives. I honestly think I'm happier and MORE CONTENT with less. I KNOW I'm actually more content with less. It doesn't seem like it makes much sense, does it? I can actually be happier with less...to do without some things. I need to find a way to fully convince myself of that and learn to share the blessings that God sends my way...sometimes I need to pass them on to someone else!

The other day I found our "Blessings" book that my children and I wrote when I was a single mom. I documented every wonderful thing that God did for us...that I was aware of, that is. (I realize that He does wonderful things for us all the time that we aren't aware of!)
It was a real joy to relive those experiences once again. Then I wondered, "Where did that joy go?"
It just seems like I'm not as appreciative now as I was back then. Seems like I've gotten used to His goodness and mercy.

Once again, I have some forgiveness to seek from my God. Thank you, Lord, for your matchless Grace.....