Thursday, August 26, 2010

Pondering

Today, I was pondering.  Not about the word ponder, which will cause me to digress.  It rhymes with wander, you know.  Anyway...
I was pondering the amount of excess that Americans (at least a vast majority) have.  A friend had asked me if I owned a bread machine.  A bread machine is a handy little "servant" that makes fresh homemade bread unattended.  It is wonderful.  Well, I own two.  My wonderful husband had purchased me one a long time ago, for Valentine's Day no less.  I have used it quite a bit off and on.  Lately, we had been using it more to make sandwich bread.  My children will eat sandwiches on homemade bread but rarely otherwise.  This bread machine makes bread in a tall tower like shape.  The puffy round part is on one end when it is done.  I had made the comment several times, I guess, that it would be better if it would make bread the sideways way.  You know like a normal loaf.  My husband being the thoughtful person that he is found one on the internet and had it shipped to me for no apparent reason.  (Everyone, now, "AWWWWW.")  Yes, I know. 
So when the friend asked me if I owned a bread machine, I had to say, "Yes, I actually own two."  I am kind of embarrassed.  It is extravagant.  It didn't have to be a bread machine, it could have been a vacuum cleaner, a car, a sewing machine, a dress, a pair of shoes.  You get the picture. 
My response to the question started me pondering the excesses of American life, and my life in particular.  Not that we live all that extravagantly, we are putting two children through college and raising two more at the moment.  But just how much more we have than we really need. 
For instance, do I really need ten dresses with matching shoes in my closet.  No, one or two would be plenty.  But it makes me wonder what God would think about it.  Then that started me pondering my ungratefulness, and made me come to the conclusion that I above all others should be so much more thankful than I really am.  I love the song, "I am the last one worthy and the first one grateful." 
The Holy Word of God says,"For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."  Romans 1:21  When we fail to give thanks, are brains become muddled and our hearts dark. 
So where did all this pondering lead?
I don't know how but I want to simplify my life, not desire to aquire, and to be so much more grateful for the blessings that God has poured out on me.
All for the glory of God and God alone.