Spoiled And I Know It

If you’re spoiled and you know it say: amen. For a moment there I remembered that old Sunday school song, “I you’re happy and you know it.” Perhaps it dates me, but even my kids sang it. I feel spoiled for more reasons than I can say, but I’ll try and express a few. Though before I do, when I say spoiled, I mean blessed beyond measure.

As I lay here my wife is snoring for background music. The rain drops and the tick tock of a clock keeps her in time. She’s the first blessing I’ll mention. She’s put up with me for 28 years and I love her more with time. Time is her biggest gift to me, for I know she would rather leave at times, for I've pressed her with the greatest of strain. Yet, in God’s merciful grace she hangs on, and tightly so. I could have never imagined what marriage would bring. Though those old vows some still use are the most accurate; and in the beginning I would have never had a clue. “For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health….”  How did those few lines know? That alone makes me spoiled.

Yet of course there is more. I have two children, really young adults full of zeal and chomping at the bit for life. They've survived life’s trials more than some will ever know. With a touch of cynicism, a dash of innocence, and all that Christ’s love can bring, these children entrusted by God will soon move on and have their own. Gods’ loving hand molds us through pressures in ways one would never know and later we see our children were the fingers of the Masters’ hand.

Yep, I’m spoiled! Our family barks and bites just like any I’ve ever know. And deep with in us Christ’s grows and grows. As a Father, I have to greater joy than to know my children are in the faith. I’m plagiarizing scriptures in those words there of course, but it’s true!

Aside from these my family members, I have great wealth. No, it’s not dollars or better yet gold. It’s treasure in heaven, through Christ our king! Gold is heaven’s asphalt as someone once said. And, asphalt doesn't mean a lot to me! So you’re spoiled and you know it say: amen!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace,which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ," Ephesians 1:3:9 NIV

                                                         

“... because your Father wants to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Get for yourselves purses that will not wear out, the treasure in heaven that never runs out, where thieves can’t steal and moths can’t destroy. Your heart will be where your treasure is.” Luke 12:32-34 NCV