When Is It Enough?

I recently read this post of  Rachels' and this post of Shannan's so this has been on
my mind a lot lately...has got me thinking.
And really, it is one on my mind quite often really because it seems to be everywhere.
Everywhere.
{And just so ya know, I don't pretend to have all the answers here, I am just kind of thinking out loud}
Why is it that nothing ever seems to be quite enough for so many people in the world today?
I know you know these people.
Bigger houses, bigger/newer cars, more stuff all the time.
Never quite satisfied.
Worried about their neighbors, their friends, their family and what they have...always
comparing what they have and don't have to others.
We have a really messed up idea of what success is and what happiness is today.
People look at certain families and friends and all they have and envy them...
without knowing their real story behind all of the stuff, what there life is like on the inside.

 Some people do appear to have a lot and maybe they do materialistically but maybe they
don't have enough of the most important things.
Or maybe they do and for some reason it still isn't enough.
I may not have as much as others but I have more than enough of what I need.
I do not wish to trade places with anyone because of what I think they have, I never have.
I have healthy children, a supportive hard-working husband that always puts the kids and
I before himself.
I have a safe home and plenty of clothes and food for my children.
We have heat and clean water and access to medical care and medication when we need it.
While there are sacrifices, becuase there are, I am able to stay home with my children...
something I would never trade for anything in the world.
Most importantly, we have wonderful supportive family around us.
Parents and grandparents and cousins, siblings and friends that are like family to us.
These are the important things.
It's not the other stuff.


This is one of the most important lessons in life I hope my children learn from us.
To be happy with what you have and where you are.
Money and things will not ultimately determine your happiness for you.
That comes from you and me, nowhere else, not from outside things or material possessions.

Please do not misunderstand me though.
I do not think that all people that drive new cars and live in big fancy houses 
"don't get it", that is not what I am saying.
And I am also not saying that I don't have more than enough, that I don't like to shop and
buy stuff we don't need...I am not saying that at all.
There is nothing wrong with having these things.
BUT there is something wrong with not recognizing/appreciating the truly important things in
life and living your life in comparison to other people.
There is something wrong with using these things to fill you up, in hopes of making yourself
happy or successful in the eyes of others.
To always be wanting more...and more...and more.
It will never be enough for them.
They will never be content.

I have a good friend who just left on a Mission Trip to Venezuela a few days ago.
This is her third trip in the last year like this, she recently went to Guatemala and Haiti as well.
She is a single foster parent to two siblings she adopted last year.
She has other kids, of all ages, in and out of her home all the time.
She is one of the most selfless people I know, she would help anyone in any way she could.
She works in Social Services, which is not the highest paying field, as we all know.
She does it though, she makes it work...she knows there is something bigger out there for her
and her family.
And thinking of the other stuff and then her a lot this week it all just seems so messed up.
I don't mean we all need to live that way either, like my friend...because obviously I don't...
but I admire her so much for the way she has chose to live and then we could all learn a lot
from people like her on what is truly important in life.
BUT, what I am saying is that we could all have a little less and look for happiness
and success in other ways...in other places.
By helping others, by doing more, by teaching our kids better.
Realizing what is truly important in life and living that way, not just saying we get it,
but living like we do.
Life is just way too short not to.

Well, that's me on my Soap Box this morning.
What do you think...are you rolling your eyes at me? think i sound too judgy? or do you
get just where i am coming from?
Whatever it is, tell me your thoughts on this, I would love to hear.
And have a great Wednesday, too.