People aren't possessions...

To give credit where credit is due, I actually heard that simple phrase, “People aren’t possessions,” on some trashy reality show -- I’m thinking it was Keeping Up with Kardashians or some other such complete nonsense I watch to escape any semblance of actual thinking -- But somehow it got me thinking -- It’s crazy what God will use in our lives if we let Him...Anyway, here’s what I’ve been thinking...

We live in a consumer society. We live in a world where people wait in line to buy gadgets & toys & things they think they can’t live without. We never really read the instruction manuals (or at least I don’t,) but all the gadgets and gizmos and what’s-its we buy come with them. We buy what we want, use it til it breaks or we get bored with it, and then we throw it away & get a new one. We upgrade, upload, alter & improve almost every thing we own. It seems we live in a world where far too often we’ve become accustomed to this consumer mentality AND believe somehow that it’s OK to treat people the same way.

BUT people aren’t possessions. We can’t own another person. We can’t control another person. We can’t improve or upgrade another person. We can’t add fancy, shiny accessories to change who they are or what they mean in our lives. We don’t have any power to change their batteries (what drives, motivates, inspires or makes them who they are,) and we don’t have any right to ask or expect them to change because we want them to. We don’t have instruction manuals on how to handle all the little problems that come along with people in our lives -- or maybe we do -- maybe the Bible is the only instruction manual we need.

But far too often we don’t read the instruction manual, we don’t work on our problems with people, and we don’t realize that the people in our lives can’t be replaced.

Unlike your iPhone or your laptop, people can’t be stolen, but they can choose to leave. And you can’t buy a security system that will keep people from ever being gone from your life. So, in a world where most are so driven by the dollar and what they can buy with it, how in the world do we learn how to stop treating people like possessions and start treating them like the creations that they are?

I try to remember that people aren’t possessions...BUT... They are creations -- they are masterpieces -- or at very least beautiful works in progress. People aren’t like iPhones or sports cars or a fancy piece of jewelry. People are more like sunsets and rainbows and beautiful flowers God has made. We have to learn to enjoy people like we enjoy these things realizing that they are gifts from God that we can neither create ourselves or possess for any length of time, but that we can appreciate when they are near. It’s interesting because as much as we love (or at least I love) sunsets, rainbows, flowers, mountain streams and all the other innumerable gifts God has placed in nature, I have never thought I could own or control or keep any of those things for my very own and I’ve never looked at one of these things and thought God should have added another leaf, or color or made any other change to the masterpieces He has made.

People aren’t possessions, but they are treasures. They are something only God can make and no two can ever be made the same.

I am working myself on understanding that I cannot control or own or possess or change or upgrade or alter people AND I know for certain that I cannot replace the people in my life...BUT...I can and must learn to appreciate them as I do the other masterpieces and beautiful gifts that God places in my life!

Treat yourself & especially your family & friends like the irreplaceable & incredible treasures that they each are!!!

For all the truly incredible treasures in my life that are the friends & family I have been blessed with, you all are truly masterpieces - more special & incredible than even the most splendid & beautiful creations in nature. You are the rainbows, sunshine & flowers I carry in my heart every single day! I thank God for you often!! And if I haven't said it lately (& because I believe I can never say it too much) Thank You for loving me & being in my life even when I am more like a rainy day than a stunning sunset or more like a stink-weed than a flower -- or actually especially when I am like that since that's when I surely need you most! You are not possessions, but you are treasures & the beauty that touches, heals & restores my soul flows from God through you and to me much more often than I can ever hope to deserve! I can never own you, control you or change you -- Thank God -- but I can & do LOVE you!!!


John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Mark 12:31
Love your neighbor as yourself...