Replace "I want" with "I have"

Last night, during dinner, our son listed off a couple of things he wanted to get. As with most families now, we’ve been more conservative in our purchasing decisions, and have decided it wise and prudent to be happy with what we have rather than thinking we need more. We’re teaching our children the same.

There was nothing wrong with acquiring the items our son desired, and we could certainly afford them, but they weren’t necessary things to have. He had fine back-ups, if you will, that worked fine for him.

When searching for a reply, I said, “Well, if you look over your whole budget, see how much money you have to spend, and decide these are priorities you want to spend your money on, you can get them.”

Truthfully, though, his budget was not big enough to buy these items! He was expecting mom and dad to foot the bill. We all knew this, but it was unspoken.

Soon the conversation ended, and peacefully so. I believe he decided quite rapidly that he had other priorities he wanted to spend his money on some day, and became content with what he had. I haven’t heard anything more about it.

I liked this outcome. By being asked to live within his means, he made an intelligent choice.

In these challenging economic times for many, the temptation looms large to think “I need, I want, I don’t have.” But when we step back from the arguments of lack and rejoice in God’s ever-present care, it’s amazing how we find contentment and peace with what we already have. It’s enough.

The joys and blessings of life are not material. They are spiritual, and they come freely from God. They are wisdom, gratitude, knowledge, understanding, cheer and love. These riches of Spirit, lived and actively expressed, build wealth, balance checking accounts, pay bills, keep us out of onerous debt, and make life a joy to live.

When we value the spiritual over the material, we make better decisions, we find contentment with what we have, we don’t crave more than we can afford, we find reasons to be grateful and enjoy the moment we’re in.

To experience more of the riches of Spirit, and live a contented life, it’s helpful to replace “I want “ with “I have.”

I have…God, love, spiritual understanding, peace of mind, trust, faith…

These spiritual states of Mind bless one from within and lead to practical solutions without. And like my son saw, we realize we have what we need. It is enough. The greater need is to be grateful for the blessings already in hand.