You Get What You Get

You get what you get,
and you don't throw a fit!

That is one of my favorite school sayings. Mind you, not my creation. It originated from one of my kinders last year. Who knows where she heard it?

Kind of like that hot lava game the kids always play. We don't teach them or suggest it, but each new group ends up playing hot lava and they go out of their way to avoid the items that are assigned hot lava (bark, asphalt, carpet, jungle gym...) status. My own kids played it years ago. Again. Not my idea. They just knew about it and played.

I do, however, often use You get what you get and you don't throw a fit! It works so perfectly when I am distributing something and I would rather not deal with the I want's or don't have time to creatively figure out a way to make the passing out a fun game. This saying fits the bill. It also helps when the kids come up with it on their own and I don't have to say a word.

The other day, I realized I say this often. But I don't apply it to myself. Hardly ever.

Here I am. An adult. Whining about the unfairness of life (express purpose of the saying) or lack of money or why do they have more? I don't like this or that. I'd rather have this. Or perhaps I am just enviously gazing at someone's beautiful garden (in which they have more room than I do to be more creative and grow more vegetables or entertain more people or have three chickens - that's all I want. Just three).

Feeling a little convicted and heretical about the whole thing. I KNOW life is not fair. I also know, for a fact, that I have plenty of whatever it is I'm whining about. I know I have much, much more than most of the world's population.

Yet I let that slide through the sieves in my mind and dwell repeatedly on my own covetousness. I don't like that about myself at all. Seriously, if I had more (of whatever it is I think I'm missing), I would just have to take care of it, right?

And ultimately, my personal goal is to live simply and to simply life. Focus on the good stuff.

Why, oh, why do I whine? And covet? Envy?

Human. Sinner. Fallen.

But there is hope. I recently read something in a blog or newsletter, and I wish I could remember where. But the author stated that yes, life is unfair. And she was exceptionally glad about that. Because it was unfair that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins. But He did it anyway, though He is the only one perfect, without sin. The only fair thing about His sacrifice is that we all have the choice on whether or not to embrace it.

And aren't I glad about that?

Sincerely, yes.

So, Miss Fancy Pants (not really, but I'll call myself that), You get what you get and don't throw a fit.

Instead, I should be thanking. And praising.


(What have I got? Almost 28 years with a wonderful man!)

For what I do get.