A Calling.

Meet my phones. My Ex, the iPhone 4, and my current, a Samsung "Pay-As-You-Go" phone from Walmart. As you may know, having an iPhone can be pretty expensive and it was finally time to make some big-boy decisions and say goodbye to some comforts. I had to pick up a more "humble" phone for communication. Let me tell you, I've gone through some discomfort since the change. I seriously miss having an iPhone. I miss all the apps that make life so easy. I'm dying without Instagram (just kidding... but not really). I miss how easy it was to text. How easy it was to check your e-mail. How easy it was to manage things. That's not the worst, though. I'm admitting to you that I often get embarrassed to pull this new phone out when someone asks to trade digits or even just to use it in public. This never felt right in my heart and it caused me to ponder what was really going on. I almost laugh out loud at my own arrogance and ignorance. It makes me so sad to realize what a spoiled brat I can be. Sure, it's a blessing to have an iPhone, but it's also a blessing to have a phone at all. Just as it is a blessing to eat at a $30-a-plate, 5-star restaurant, it's also a blessing to have beans and rice to eat. Why is it so hard to be thankful for what we have? Is it because we have so much? It's upsetting to realize that rather than rejoicing that I have a phone that works in my pocket, I'm feeling frustrated and ashamed because I don't have the phone I want. Oh, the heart. I am reminded of the Word of God:

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

- 1 Timothy 6:6-10

"Jesus said, 'Beware! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possesions.'"

- Luke 12:15

"Jesus said, 'Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'"

- Matthew 6:20-21

I pray that we can choose to be thankful and recognize that all we have is a gift given to us through Love and Grace. God will never stop being good, so why should we ever stop giving thanks?

Blessings,

-C.