Storing up Treasures...

So, last night I was asked what I wanted my legacy to be, and also what I wanted to be remembered for.

There was a bunch of us who answered.

Not one of us said "I want to be remembered for my huge house." or "I hope I leave a lot of credit card bills for the stuff I bought." None of us said "I hope they remember the places we went."

It was all about leaving a legacy of God's love. Loving others, and teaching them how to love. Making a difference in someone's life. Making them understand how important they are. Not leaving people to be alone.

It's really easy to get caught up in the needs and wants of our daily lives. It's easy to want to put our money towards fun things, and good times. There is nothing wrong with stuff, and there's nothing wrong with fun.

What we need to realize that both of those things are used to increase relationships. Our trips connect us with family or friends in a way that we paste into our memories as good times. Our things allow us to give gifts of love, or put food on the table when we get together.

If you have a whole lot of stuff, or a whole lot of trips, and no one to share it with, it rarely brings contentment.

I am a person who loves stuff. I love to decorate, and I'm good at it. I can build a room around almost anything. It's fun to make the world a prettier place. Lately I've been trying to see things more practically, and in a less transient way. Choose artwork that I will love for a lifetime, not just until I change the color of the curtains, and need something new. Keep the wearing furniture until the kids are grown before I consider newer. It's a daily battle of the brain for me, but I think I'm winning- because I'm thinking longer term.

I had a bit of a wake up call recently, when we went to a nursing home to visit Ryan's Grandpa. He's just moved in, and didn't have much there. I think he's hoping it's temporary and doesn't want to move much from his apartment.

I sat there, and looked around the room. A bed, a small table, a lamp, a few pictures, a t.v., an old recliner,and a minifridge. That's what his possessions have come to. And eventually, he won't need or care about any of those things either.

We start out with a bedroom, and we end up with one. All the nice stuff I have now, isn't gonna stay nice. It's gonna get old, broken, and forgotten. Or downsized. Anything I store up is just gonna get given away eventually because it won't fit in my room.

I'm not being all sad and oversensitive.

I'm being real. Our lives can't be about the stuff. They have to be about the love.

Let's open our eyes and readjust our priorities. Again.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But 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." Matt 6:19,20