"You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." From a song by the Rolling Stones. Odd that a quote from the Stones makes a really good point. Decca Records. Jimmy Miller producer. All rights reserved.
The Rolling Stones sang: "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need."
It's kind of weird when the Rolling Stones make a really good point, but they did. You're not going to get everything you want. But if you're paying attention, you'll probably notice that you're getting what you need.
There are times when requests are made to our parents, but they're denied-like the young man who wanted a special fishing pole, but he had to be satisfied with his old pole. When he went fishing again, he caught a two-pound trout. He realized that his old pole was all he needed.
Some girls can recall how they thought they couldn't live without a certain outfit they'd seen in a teen magazine. But in real life, in a department store, sometimes the color wasn't right or the material was scratchy. Other times stylish boots were a fad. Trying them on, they realized they could barely walk in the things.
It's easy to compare what you've got against what friends, neighbors, or people who are admired have got-and find yourself coming up short. Everyone else seems so much better off!
It's easy to envy kids who seem better looking or more popular, ones who make better grades or are successful leaders. There is always someone more coordinated on the drill team, or a soprano in the glee club who can hit higher notes. Maybe you always notice someone stronger, more athletic, someone who drives a great car, has more spending money, a better job.
You can spend all day making a list of people in better circumstances, but that's not a helpful activity for those who want to be like Jesus and follow Him. A good way to shake that self-pity is to inventory the good things Creator has done for you. One of His blessings, often taken for granted, is good health. There are people who have a life threatening disease or a serious injury to face. If you have good health, be grateful! Second, the necessities of life provided by parents, foster parents, grandparents or whomever you live with, require gratitude. Not everyone has a warm place to live, adequate clothing to wear, enough food to eat, and plenty of clean water to drink. Having these things when there are millions of people in the world who don't have these necessities should cause us to pause and remember that Creator has truly blessed us.
Take time to consider personal possessions and benefits beyond life's necessities. For some, it's a private room, a cell phone, a TV, a computer, music lessons, trips to amusement parks, family vacations. You may not have all those extras. But what do you have? What can you thank God for?
After a few minutes of reflection, we find we are blessed in so many ways. It is foolish and selfish to give in to pity, or become depressed over little things we think we need. We should remember God loves us, and He promised to meet our needs as He sees fit. He didn't promise to grant all our wishes, but He did say He'd meet our needs and that we should not worry-for if He cares for the birds and the flowers, He surely cares for us.
