The Next Shiny New Thing

I have a "Mimi basket." This gray laundry basket is packed full of toys, baby dolls, and books, and every Wednesday it makes the roadtrip with me to my grandkids' house for the day. Last week, I "refreshed" my basket by putting two shiny new cars in it, one red and one green. All four grandkids were thrilled at the sight of these new items. However, within minutes, the 5, 4, and 3 year old figured out that only the green car's hood could open. Therefore THIS car was THE car that ALL THREE wanted ALL DAY LONG. Forget about anything else in the basket, much less, any other toy that existed in their own house. I had to set the timer for sharing time, over and over. Needless to say, this "basket refreshment" backfired on Mimi!

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Now, I'm not picking on my grandkids for acting their age. Actually, it made me think of our human nature in general, and how we as adults tend to act their age--and I'm putting myself at the top of the list! How quickly the next shiny new thing can lure me in. Wave a fun trip in front of me, and I'm already in the airplane buckled up! Offer me a dessert, any dessert, and you'll have a best friend!

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Truly, these things themselves are not the problem...it's only when they become our source of fulfillment, that we get into trouble. Because, these things can't fulfill our deepest longing; they actually do the opposite. Psalm 16:4 says, The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply. For example, too musch dessert leads to me feeling rotten followed by a sleepless night. The best idols can do is give us a temporary buzz.

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So often we forgo the fulfilling, and settle for the fleeting. (Would you believe, the following Wednesday, the green car in my basket was not even touched? The new shine was gone.)

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Here's a thought: What if we craved God and the things of God in this same excitement and fervor? He asks us to seek him as a treasure (Proverbs 2:4). He says his mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). God offers us so much more than anything on this earth can ever give us. We just have to believe it. He cannot fill our heart when its already full of something else.

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So when the next shiny new thing is waved in front of you, here's a promise to hold as your very own instead:

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You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

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Enjoy life and its gifts, but remember they are as fleeting as a little green car in a grandmother's laundry basket.

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Choose fulfillment; it lasts forever.

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