Hand-Me-Down

I am the third child of four siblings. I have two older sisters, and several older girl cousins. The concept of second-hand and hand-me-downs is not foreign to me. As a child, I did not mind it at all. I did not really care what I wore or what I played with, as long as I was comfortable and had fun. I actually liked telling people that the jacket I was wearing once belonged to my cousin or that I was rolling along in my big sister's skates. The fact that some of my belongings were already broken in made things easier for me. As I grew older, I wanted more things to belong only to me. Yet, I still didn't mind wearing my sisters' clothes (they wore mine too!), or receiving an old, discarded desk that once belonged to my dad's friend.

My children seem to feel the same way I as I did as a kid. They get excited to have "new to them" items of both clothing and toys. Our youngest son finally fit into the Darth Vader pajamas that his older brothers used to wear. He walks around proudly in them, although he never seems to keep them on to sleep. I want my children, and myself, not to focus on material things. Those cannot fulfill us. I want us to focus on God, and godly things. How we treat others, thanking the Lord for all He has done, worshiping Jesus because of who He is and what He has done for all of us, all of this I want to instill in my children.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)