Learnable Moments For Moms: Devotions To Discover God In The Everydayনমুনা

In the fall, my toddler went through a squirrel phase. I was pregnant at the time and trying to walk as much as possible. Every day she and I would take a walk, but we would only get as far as the big oak tree four houses down. The oak tree was right next to the sidewalk and dropped all of its acorns right on the concrete where she could see them. Once we got to that spot, she would start collecting the smooth round acorns that fascinated her. Sometimes she would bring a cup or bucket from home. Other times she would fill her hands, then my hands, and then my pockets. Once she had collected for the better part of half an hour and anything that could hold acorns was overflowing, she and I would walk back home with her treasures. 

On the walk home, I would try to discreetly drop as many of the acorns as possible. Once home, she would hide them all around the house like a squirrel. While cleaning later I would find small clusters here and there. Some would be in her play teapot or her sock drawer. Occasionally I would find a huge collection, perhaps in the bottom of the laundry basket. I threw away as many of her stockpiles that I could find, but the acorns were full of little bugs that eat them up over time. By the time I discovered some of her piles, there were only little pieces left!

READ

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

APPLY

The things that we spend so much time and energy gathering in this life are ridiculously temporary. We try to collect things of value, things that will last, but all of these things are passing away before our very eyes. Anything tangible in this life that we work for will wither, pass away, or be left behind. Only two things are eternal and will remain at the end- God and people. We need to be sure that our time, energy, attention, and resources go into the eternal rather than the temporary. There are a lot of distractions around us, trying to pull our hearts after the treasure that litters this life. But we must fight to keep our hearts and our eyes on Christ!

PRAY

Father, I am sorry for the temporary things in this life that I chase after. Give me a heart that yearns after the eternal, and give me the strength to set aside all that is temporary in pursuit of it!

REFLECT

What treasure is my heart attached to unnecessarily?