Last week while working in the kitchen, I had the radio playing in the background and heard snippets of an interview with Christian music artist, tobyMac. One thing he said really caught my ear, the simple phrase, “I get to…”
He was referring to those things we take for granted, those things we often disparage because they’re not as new or as cool as our neighbors. As a writer, how often have I compared where I’m at in my writing journey with someone else?
My upcoming release, Hungry for Home, is centered around a homeless teen, someone who has to scrounge for food, someone without a roof over his head or a bed to sleep on. How often do we take those things for granted?
Every day I get to eat without worry over where my next meal is coming from. I get to live in a house. I get to sleep in a bed. I get to cover myself with clean blankets.
I also get to stand on two legs, see with two eyes, and hear with two ears. I get to type my words on a computer using eight fingers and two thumbs.
In the United States we get to gather together, openly, without worry. We get to talk about—write about—pray to—Jesus freely without fear of being jailed, injured, or even killed for our faith.
We get to …
Three simple words that have made a big impact on my life perspective. Now when I’m feeling down or envious or forgotten, I just have to think about the abundant ways in which God has blessed me. Blessed all of us. I get to …
Think about it …
What do you get to do?
Comments 2
There’s nothing quite like taking a spiritual inventory. The “I get tos” in my life surpass my abilities to name. And not only the “I get tos” but the “I’ve gotten tos”. A few of the big things/dreams: “I got to” go on a three-month trip to Europe and Great Britain as a brand new 20 year old after working to save for it. I got to fulfill a life-long dream of working with horses at the racetrack for over 30 years – hard as it might’ve been in the later years financially, the Lord always bailed us out. I got to own a home for over 30 years and will soon move to a new one. Each day is an “I get to” with exactly those kinds of things you mentioned, Bren. Above my level of imagination and comprehension as to why the Lord as been so utterly gracious to me. He is everything.
My perspective on writing: they’re His books. If He doesn’t want them sold in great numbers, that’s His business. It rarely frustrates me anymore because I have so many “I get tos”.
Thanks for this post, Bren. It’s a good one. 😉
Thank you, Nicole. 🙂
The “I get tos” and “I got tos” are far too numerous to name. Sometimes we have to sit back, though, and really think about that. He is a very gracious God, and I am abundantly blessed!