“I Wish I…” – Proverbs in Practice
At dinner, former procrastinators, I heard one man at the table ask another in regard to his situation, “What do you want?” The gentleman answered and the first man asked, “What are you doing about it?”
There’s the modern-day wording of this proverb:
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” Proverbs 13:4.
What do you want? What are you doing about it?
I’m not saying the man above is a sluggard. I’m saying those two questions could help a sluggard. As diligent women, we want to ask them of ourselves.
The lazy person often has an intense desire for something he’s not getting. The steady, earnest worker has plenty to meet his needs and desires. What’s the difference? Working to get it.
Here are some “cravings” and a possible way to kick start diligence.
“I wish I could travel like she does.” Save a little monthly. Tackle a money-making project for travel funds. Take short trips in your area.
“I wish my children picked up after themselves.” Train them. Other moms have good ideas.
“I wish my house looked put together like hers does.” Arrangement can be more important than brand, color, or newness. Ask a friend whose home you enjoy to help you rearrange what you already have.
“I wish I could decorate with nicer things.” Consider FB Marketplace. An acquaintance has furnished nearly a whole cabin with expensive discards from the curb. Check online freebies. Be selective.
“I wish we weren’t so cluttered.” Declutter. https://www.theminimalmom.com/
“I wish I had a husband who helped.” Have a respectful talk. If he doesn’t respond by doing, ask the Lord for a servant heart for you and take joy in other blessings that come through your man.
“I wish I’d be picked for the team.” Ask someone to coach you in building skills. Take a long-term view. If not this season, be ready for the next. Practice year round.
“I wish I didn’t like sweets so much.” Not eating sweets takes away much of the desire for them.
The blind beggar wished that he could see (Luke 18:36-42). When he heard Jesus approaching, he called out “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Others tried to silence him. “But he cried out all the more.” Jesus stopped and paid attention to him. “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately, he could see, followed Jesus, and glorified God.
The blind man could not work to regain his vision. But He knew Who could restore his sight and he doggedly persisted in crying to Jesus. After his healing by Jesus, he glorified God and all the people who saw it, praised God. Will I and others praise God as the result of my persistence?
“I wish I …” Fill in the blank. What are you doing about it?
