Lasting and Permanent
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:19-21 NKJV)
I turned the television on after breakfast today. A loud commercial blared out at me urging me to buy something and make my life happier. This was followed by another commercial and another each one saying the same thing: buy this or that and your life will be great. After a while I couldn’t take it anymore. The commercials weren’t making me feel better. They were just trying to make me want things I didn’t need. Finally I shut off the set and looked out the window at the sun coming up over the mountains. The clouds were painted purple, pink, and yellow by God’s own hand.
Watching them I finally smiled and felt at peace. In my life over the
years I have listened to a lot of commercials and bought a lot of things. I have
bought cars, televisions, computers, cell phones, stereos, and more appliances
than I could use. The happiness they brought me was temporary and fleeting at
best. They may have at times made my life more convenient, but they never once
made my life more joyful.
The things that did make my life happier, the things that brought lasting and
permanent joy into my heart and soul couldn’t be bought in a store. They instead
were found in the wide open arms of love. They were found in prayer, in thanking
God everyday for my life, and in inviting His love into my soul. They were found
in simple acts of kindness, freely shared, expecting nothing in return. They
were found in gentle words of encouragement, big hugs of affection, and
inspiring thoughts of goodness. They were found in all the little choices I made
everyday to grow in oneness with God and to do my best to be His Child. They
were found in living a life of caring for others and giving back what I could to
this wonderful world.
What do you want: the momentary pleasure the commercials offer and the empty
wallet that goes with it or the eternal joy of living a life of love? It is up
to you. Choose well.
By: Joseph J. Mazzella