I often hear parents of large families say, “My kids don’t have everything they want, but they do have everything they need.” This thought was rattling around in my head last Friday after a rough week at work. God, the Father of the largest family in history, has not given me everything I want: a baby, a Catholic husband (yet), a job at a company that’s not run by total nitwits, physical strength, or a winning lottery ticket. But I do have what I need.
I need opportunities to grow in patience and holiness, and every day either DH or my job provides me with at least one such opportunity. (No, he doesn’t read my blog, why do you ask?)
I need work that serves the Lord and my fellow man, and I have that, even if the place I currently work drives me crazy.
I need to share the fruits of my labors with others, and my job pays well enough for me to do that.
I need to get over my stubborn pride and learn to ask for help when I need it, and being physically small requires me to do that. Nothing says humility like needing help opening a jar.
I need a challenge, and verbal sparring with DH is it. DH and I don’t just argue religion; sometimes when we’re bored we have fake arguments, like whether the correct word is soda or pop1 or whether Kirk or Picard was a better captain.2
I need to be reminded of divine love, and Stations of the Cross does that in spades.
No, I don’t have everything I want. But I have everything I need.
“If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him?” -Matthew 7:11
- Pop.
- Picard, of course.
