We all want what we can't have

If I had to pick one person that I thought would never want for more, it would be Eve.  However, Eve wanted what she could not have and things were never the same.  Imagine with me for a minute what it must have been like living in the Garden of Eden.  I picture the garden as being full of flowers (especially roses), waterfalls, luscious green grass and trees, and a climate between 65 - 75 degrees.  God made sure Adam and Eve had everything they needed.  All of their food was provided.  They did not need air-conditioners or heaters because the temperature was always just right.  They did not need jobs because everything was provided for them.  They did not need beds because the grass was luscious and soft (not to mention they did not have back problems!).  And Adam did not need a couch because they never got into a fight.  But the most amazing thing of all was that God walked with them in the cool of every evening!

One day when Eve was walking through the garden, she came to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Adam and Eve had been warned by God to stay away from that tree and not to touch or eat of it or they would die. It is not stated how or why Eve came upon the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but Satan was there waiting for her in the form of a serpent.  Eve told the serpent that God warned them to not to eat or touch of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and if they did, they would die.  Satan told Eve that if she ate from that tree, she would be as gods, knowing good and evil.  Eve looked at the tree and saw that the fruit was beautiful.  Perhaps she even touched it and smelled it before she actually took the fruit, but it was not the actual look or smell of the fruit that made Eve take it, it was the fact that Satan told her she would become as gods.  Eve wanted something more even though she had everything.

Maybe you are looking at the grass on the other side of the fence today thinking things would be so much better if you could just get over the fence, when in fact you have everything you really need on this side of the fence.  Sure, there is nothing wrong with dreaming, but there is something wrong with wanting something we are not meant to have or something that we know is wrong.  The grass is not always greener on the other side.  My pastor has said many times that the grass that looks so green on the other side usually turns out to be artificial turf!  We need to learn to be content with what God has given us, and in turn teach our children to be content with what God has given them.  God does not give hand me downs, but He also does not give us more than we can handle.  God sees the future and He knows in His great wisdom what we need at that moment.

Let's determine to be content with what God has given us.  We will find that our children are more rested and at peace when we are content.

Hope you have a day full of content!