I thought we were “moving up”.  So did my husband.  And we thought our kids wanted to “move up”.   My husband had just accepted a promotion at work and he always wanted a pool in the backyard.  Not a blow-up kind, or the above-ground kind, but a real in-the-ground pool like we saw on all those real estate shows.  The home we lived in was fine – it had all the “home” prerequisites – a roof, windows, two bathrooms and a finished basement.  But one day we drove by the home with the pool.  And a “for sale” sign.  It was more money than we wanted to spend …but, what the heck, what are promotions for except to allow you to enjoy the perks that go along with the increased income?  And what are kids for except to give the perks that we never had growing up?  Or so we thought.

We moved in.  Each day we could look out our back window and see the big 20 x 40, 33,000 gallon “Perk” – our own swimming pool.   One day my 8-year-old son came in with a towel wrapped around his body and a scowel wrapped around his face.   “What’s wrong?” I asked?  “Why can’t we have a back yard like everyone else?”  he said.  “This pool takes up the whole back yard and there’s no where to play ball.”  I had to admit that the “perk” was becoming a problem.  It was alot of work, alot of money, and yes, I missed having a yard. 

I often think of that when I pray for all the things I think I really want.  I look at it two ways – one, the spoiled child who gets what others could only dream about …and it’s not enough.  And from the perspective of the parent: I got what I thought I wanted but it comes with it’s own set of drawbacks and problems. 

It teaches me to be grateful for what I have – maybe it’s not what I think I want this minute – but it’s what God has provided for me.  And it keeps me from always wanting more –  knowing that more “things” come with more problems, more responsibility, more maintenance.  God knows what I need and what I can manage.  God help me be at peace with those things.