My Dream Home

The grocery store that I shop at has been having a contest for the past two months. When you purchase specially marked items in the store, you receive Monopoly playing pieces. Collect the right Monopoly pieces, and earn free prizes. The prizes you could win range anywhere from grocery items (like a free package of cookies) all the way up to a million dollars. One of the prizes was a $500,000 "dream home." I've been collecting all my Monopoly pieces each week, just hoping and praying for the right game piece to come my way that would let me win the dream home. I don't need a million bucks. The $500,000 dream home would be good...

So, you can imagine my horror when I went to get my groceries today, and was told by the cashier that they had run out of game pieces. I asked her when they'd be getting more in. And that's when she told me that they weren't getting more game pieces in. They ran out. Game over!

You mean, I didn't win the $500,000 dream home?!?! Not even the $1000 cash prize?!?! But I really, really, really wanted that house.

I once heard a very wise pastor say that so many people love to throw around the saying that God will never give us more than we can handle. We use it in tough times. Times when our faith feels like it is being tested. Times when we feel burdened. Heavy hearted. When we feel like we are struggling to hold on. In times when we don't understand. In times when we can't make sense of things.

But how many times do we use that saying in times when we get exactly what we were meant to have all along, and nothing more?

God will not give me more than I can handle. If I've shown God in the past that I am not truly thankful for what He's already given to me, and I am not a good steward of what He's already given me, then why would He give me more?

I can't begin to recall exactly how many times I've complained about something regarding my home. The kitchen isn't big enough. I hate the carpet in the bedrooms. I want a bigger backyard. It's not open enough. I wish I lived on the water. I wish I had this, that, and some more. It's just not my dream home.

I live in a nice sized, five bedroom home. This has been our home for almost eight years. It is the home that I am raising my family in. The home that keeps us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The home that we brought our third child home from the hospital to. The home that keeps us safe at night. The home that we've made so many memories in. The home that has sheltered and protected us through many storms. The home that has given my husband refuge after many long days at work. The home that has given us refuge after losing family pets, and family loved ones. The home that God has entrusted to me and my husband. And yet, I want more. I want a bigger, better dream home.

Why would God ever give me more than I can handle?

Okay, so I am still a little disappointed that I didn't win the dream home. And there's nothing wrong with dreaming. But perhaps instead of hoping for a new dream home, I need to be more grateful for the dream home that I've already been given.