We’ve lived in our smaller house for a year now. It’s been an adjustment, but we’ve figured it out. Mostly. Just don’t open the hallway closet.
Still, as another birthday passes and the weather turns towards Spring, my heart starts to want. More square footage. A third bathroom. A self-cleaning dog run. I cruise the MLS and Pinterest. I dream.
At some point, the wanting steps out of my heart and becomes a monster in my chest.
The Want Monster.
It is naturally in my personality to obsess, and the Want Monster needs obsession to survive. At first, it seems harmless, like I’m considering. Let’s just see, the Monster says.
But then when Common Sense kicks in, or Shea puts his foot down, the Monster roars.
Why do we have to be patient? Why do we have to wait? Now, now, now!
And that’s when the Want Monster begins to steal my joy.
Shea and I have been mostly calculated and patient financially our entire marriage. We’re planners. Right now we are in year 3 of a 5 year plan and we are on track.
In the last month, the Want Monster has tried to tell me that this life is not enough.
I know it is a lie. But once the Monster is born, it takes a minute to beat him back.
Last week, I prayed for God to ease the wanting. I don’t want to want. I don’t want to have my head turned by things away from our life, which is good and solid and manageable.
I think a lot of us struggle with the Want Monster, whether in our homes, our marriages, our jobs, our families. Someone will always have it better, or have something we think we want.
I also think it is an act of grace to be happy with what you have built, with what you have been given. God calls us to live our best lives according to His time and guided by His plan. But best lives doesn’t relate to accumulation of things and the Want Monster is not the voice of God.
Knowing is half the battle. Prayer is the other half. This Lent, I am coming in armed for hunting monsters.
St. Joan of Arc, pray for us.
Full Of Graces 