I have started half a dozen posts today and scrapped them all. Nothing felt right. Finally, I googled blog memes for some ideas and came across "I Want Wednesday".As one of my goals in 2008 was to want less and be content with my life, this was a challenging question for me at first; but after a bit of contemplation I realized that we all want things. The wanting itself isn't wrong, particularly if the something you want is worthwhile. And I won't think you're terrible if what you really want is a new pair of jeans or great drapes in your living room. I've just tried to step away from wanting the kinds of things that cost money and always leave me wanting more.
Anyhow, after thinking about it, it felt fitting for me to discuss what I want now that I've (mostly) done away with the I-want-itis that has plagued me for most of my life. And here's what I came up with:
- I want my children and husband to know I love them. Deeply and completely. Hopefully they will never have cause to doubt that fact.
- I want to instill in my children a desire to please God and to keep His commandments-- rather than just instilling in them the ability to obey our rules while they live in our house.
- I want my words and actions to reflect the joy I really feel in my life. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in complaining about the little, unimportant stuff.
- I want to get through a Christmas without a little (or big) breakdown.
- I want to find a balance in my life so that I can fit in all the important things, including exercise, scripture study, serving others, family time, one-on-one time with my kids, date night, relationships with my friends and extended family, reading, learning, sleeping . . .
- I want to get enough sleep tonight.
- I want to feel close to the Savior all the time instead of having some periods of my life being closer than others.
- I want to be debt-free.
- I want to remember for all my life that joy and contentment do not come in having pretty things--that I can spend my time and resources in pursuit of things more valuable than material goods.
- I want to be a better friend. wife. mother. daughter. sister. you get the picture.
13 comments:
LOVE the photo of the bath!!! George said you could win some kind of prize for that one!! I remember Jared climbing in a full bath at my friends house while wearing some BRAND NEW Stride Rite shoes. I do remember laughing, I guess that is good!
I want all those things as well, but my biggest want right now is for the baby to be ok, to get our schoolwork done for this year before he/she arrives in July, and for our house to be reasonably decluttered and clean so I can think.
I love that picture of the kids in the tub. It took me a moment to notice she was fully clothed!
I want you to know that was a great post! Very inspiring. I want those things too. I also want myself and my husband to get over our colds/flu. A healthy body is something I forget to be grateful for until it's not so healthy anymore.
Forgot to mention what I want. I want to have Joy. No matter what the circumstance. Just Joy.
Your last "want" goes right along with a quote my sister-in-law stitched up for me for Christmas. It says, "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of what you already have."
What do I want? I want my home to be a heaven a earth.
I just grinned at that picture of you daughter in her pjs in the tub. My littlest guy does that all too often. He never wants to get out but he is usually the trouble maker so he end up out first. Then after getting him dressed, he jumps back in.
I loved you list of wants I totally agree with all of them. There are so few material wants that I would put on my list.
I want to learn how to effectively parent each of my very different children and help them grow into their full potiential.
I want to be like you. :)
couldn't be laughing harder right now at that picture of Bronwen. Too funny.
I like how you want the kids to want to please God instead of just following rules while in your home. That is something I want to teach too (and didn't realize it until I read it).
Thanks for sharing :-)
I love that Bronwen is in the bath tub fully dressed. The look on her face is priceless. save that one for her wedding video..
I want Isaac to be consistently sleeping through the night, before I start over again with a newborn.
I want to be less critical of myself and others.
I want to have more self discipline when it comes to the way I use my time.
I want to finally get caught up on the unpacking, putting away, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. so I can then get caught up on my blogging! I haven't posted in forever, but have tons of things to write about. Maybe by this weekend? Thanks for the post and admitting your burn out. It makes me feel better to know that I am not the only who struggles to find time or drive to make the blog thing happen.
I want all those things as well.
I want to live my life with the mantra, "Come what may and love it."
I want to be content with all that I have.
I want to enjoy my children NOW.
I want to not be distracted by so many unimportant things so I can focus more on my family and the gospel.
I really like this meme, thanks for finding it!
I want you to know what a great friend you are and I don't tell you enough how much I cherish our friendship...
A friend like you helps me reach my goals...
I want to pinch Bronwen she is just too cute...
I want ...
er .....
um ....
no, hang on, I think I already have everything I want!!
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