Recently my toddler has started to use the word mine. Everything is “mine”. The toy, the tablet, the pillow, even the spot where mommy is sitting. Yes, all “mine” to her. 

This tendency in toddlers to overuse the word mine can be annoying and downright frustrating at times. As parents, we want to teach our children about sharing and giving. About not being selfish. 

While this is my heart I also realize I struggle with the thoughts of “mine”. This house is mine. These kids are mine. The vehicle I drive is mine. The food in the refrigerator is mine. My time is mine. The money in our bank account is mine. Every day I think about what is mine. I take care of what is mine. 

Reality: it is not mine. It is all God’s. He created every good and perfect gift. Those things I listed really are not mine. God has entrusted some things to me. God has given me some responsibility but at the end of the day are they really mine? 

It’s like working for a company. Every day that person labors and cares for the tasks at hand however when he goes home at night he does not own the business. The worker has responsibilities there. He has invested his time there. Nevertheless, the company is not his. 

God has given us many things to do, care for and enjoy while here on this earth. And yet these things are not for us to hold on to, grip like a tantruming toddler. 

The things, the good things before you, don’t hold them too tightly. Don’t suffocate the living in life. 

As time goes on more and more I realize there is only one thing I can hold on to. One Thing that I can claim as mine and never let go of. That One Thing is my relationship with Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Lord. 

What are you holding on to? 

 

James 1:17-18 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. NIV

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. NIV

Psalm 89:11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. ESV

Psalm 104:24 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. NLT

Genesis 1:31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. NLT