Take the microwave for example, I recently lost mine due to the lovely fact it just quit working. I was with out for about 3 days and let me tell you, It was crazy, I didn't realize how reliant I had become on using the microwave to cook or warm up food. I had forgotten how a simple left over meal from the night before was to warm up via a push of a button for lunch the next day! Instead those 3 days I had to warm it up on the stove in a pot or in the oven. Seriously, it took longer and made more of a mess! Definitely, not set up for self gratification of a now experience using the stove!
But, again that isn't what I am referring to as self gratification either. I am talking a bit more deeper than that. I am talking about how society has become so caught up in the "Make me Happy NOW" that they don't think of the long term effects of decisions or behavior they portray on a daily basis. Including me from time to time! Yes, I the Not So Ordinary Princess, even has not so Royal Princess moments! I too can be a Royal Pain in the Ass rather than a Royal Princess at times, I am humble enough to admit it!
Let me see if I can use a situation I was made aware of recently to explain or show example of what I mean by living a life of now self gratification rather than living life selflessly. I have been dating a guy now for about a month and a half, He is amazing, He is everything I have prayed for since I was a young girl, I really believe that God is answering my prayers and giving me the desire of my heart in this area. Shawn is his name, and he is so amazing for many ways. I could write a whole blog (perhaps another time) on just how and why he is amazing. Time will escape me on why, but the only draw back to this relationship is he lives 1300 miles away. Now folks this isn't an internet relationship. Shawn and I went to school back in 1995 (high school together) and I moved out of state after that so distance has become our opposing force right now. We depend on the phone and snail mail, texting and an occasional facebook message to communicate right now. He is planning on moving to my home state soon! But recently, Shawn has been working mad hours, 6 sometimes 7 days a week just to provide financially for himself and to take on the role to provide for me and my daughter 1300 miles away. When we first started talking I have to admit it was nice to talk HOURS on end day and night via phone. I'm on medical leave right now due to foot injury so I sit home bored..lol He was in between jobs (construction) so we had no barriers stopping us from talking ALL day and ALL night! But recently, Shawn has been working and a lot! Our conversations are shorter and not as often. I broke down last night and told him crying I wasn't happy about it. I know selfish right? I had gotten spoiled and addicted to what we had in the beginning and become self gratified by it. I had not taken into account that perhaps his schedule would change and we'd perhaps have to adjust to a new talking schedule. So many thoughts swarmed my head, past negative behaviors began to surface and be active in my life because of past sour relationships that I began to distance myself from Shawn unconsciously and it was effecting our relationship! I blew up his phone via texts to find out what was going on. I wanted a NOW answer, I wanted a NOW reason, I wanted a NOW Shawn. That was when, God stepped in and used Shawn to show me I was expecting self gratification from a situation that for now is gratification delayed due to the distance. I didn't take into account that Shawn is working hard to get his paycheck to pay bills, save money for the move, and to save money to help when he gets here. I was looking at it through selfish eyes because again I Princess, wanted him NOW.
How many other people have been guilty of wanting NOW when perhaps there is a process that is required that isn't denying gratification just delaying it for a bit? I know I have been guilty of this many times and finally think this may be my down fall and my "wandering in the wilderness for 40 year moment". So now that perhaps the problem is revealed how do we solve it? Anyone, have any suggestions? hmmm, well, so far the only one I have come up with is: Relinquish ALL control of your life in ALL areas to God. Don't just give Him the reigns and when things don't go the way you assume they should grab them back and dictate God and your life. I mean truly giving God the reigns and trusting that no matter what come hell or high water you will NOT take them back. I know this is way easier said then done, in fact I am 30 years old and knew all this but hadn't been doing it. I found it easier to give God control of the areas I felt He was an expert at rather than giving him access to all areas. I made a decision back in March?April of this year to give him the area of my heart and life involving relationships. I went on a 6 month fast from dating and any type of relationship with guys. I learned so much about me it isn't even funny. I let God give me a make-over and remodel me in this area, which when October came it positioned me to be open to recieve Shawn when God placed him in my life. Yes it was choice I had to make to let Shawn in, I had to choose him when he asked me to be his woman. It was a battle I had to struggle with because of all the work God had done in me, I had to start activating the new behaviors, thinking patterns, mindset, and emotions that were given to me over the 6 month process. I didn't fight long, because God knows best, so I swallowed hard and said "OKAY, GOD This is you, I'm walking forward into this, trusting you will guide me, lead me and build our relationship on you!" And guess what He has! Both Shawn and myself have been trusting God and letting Him build our faith through each other and deepen our relationships with God both individually and as a team!
There is an old saying that for years has drove me buggies when I hear it, "I suppose you want your cake and be able to eat it too?" I mean seriously, what kid on their b-day is given a cake and told no they can't eat it? I don't know of any....So what is the cake for? To eat..duh, so then why do folks say "I suppose you want your cake and be able to eat it too" Hell, if you ain't gonna let me eat the cake get it out of my face....lol I mean yes, there are some life situations that will be like a cake and just add fat to us (meaning they aren't beneficial experiences we really need to partake of) but still, its our choice to eat of that cake if presented. Guess, that is where wisdom comes into play and we choose to activate wisdom or ignorance and pay the consequence later on if we choose to eat of the 'fatty cake'! lol
So the next time I hear "what I suppose you want your cake and be able to eat it too,"I will say yes, but if I eat of it, it is MY choice. I mean after all cake is to be eaten! Giggle giggle. Now I am going to insert a disclaimer on this whole "have your cake and eat it too thought."
READY:
USE WISDOM WHEN OFFERED YOUR CAKE:
IF YOU ARE DIABETIC DON'T EAT A CAKE FULL OF SUGAR.
IF YOU ARE MARRIED DON'T EAT A CAKE FULL OF ADULTERY.
IF YOU ARE EASILY ANGERED DON'T EAT A CAKE FULL OF HATE.
MY POINT:
KNOW THE INGREDIENTS OF THE CAKE BEFORE YOU EAT IT!
THIS WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE!
After all wasn't it an apple of deception that Snow White bit into that caused her to "die"? Becareful what you bite into!
