You Deserve It!!!

There was a time I would use the expression , "Good for you. You deserve it!" as a part of my every day language. It was usually received with a smile and "thank you" as the person would expound upon their "good thing" to come. It wasn't until one day when a friend of mine from church told me that her and her family were going to Hawaii for a long over due family vacation that I actually was called out on the comment. I have been thankful ever since and as I have grown as a person, I have come to delete the expression from my speech. Let me explain.

You see, this woman telling me of the trip to Hawaii is an incredible mother to special needs children. She is a busy woman involved in ministry, keeping her home, home schooling, mothering, etc and on top of all she does in life, she got very ill with a brain condition. She had a couple surgeries to provide relief and in her state of recovery, was looking forward to the trip. She deserved this trip, right?! "Enjoy yourself. You deserve it!" was my response and quick as lightening, her response back was, " I don't deserve any of it. I am just blessed to be able to go."

It took me back. No one had called themselves undeserving before and basically, that was what she had done.

I went home and remarked to my hubby how it still had me taken aback and how I found myself understanding where she was coming from, and even agreeing. What do we deserve in life? And what do those of lesser means deserve in their life, then?

You see, life isn't fair! I know all of us have known this personal truth to one extent or another for years, but let's reiterate the fact. LIFE ISN'T FAIR! And this woman, or I, or you, are no more deserving of trips, medical treatment, a vehicle, a big house, or and education than any other person. We all fall short in places in our lives. We all disappoint ourselves, each other, our God... we all make mistakes. And we all have a glimpse of goodness and love within us (after all, we are made in His image).

I know men that work 50 hours a week sweating in the hot sun for a living to care for their wife and children. They get paid very, very little and barely make the bills. That family will never experience the joys of a trip to Florida or drive a luxury car. That family will not be able to pay for their children's college education or their daughter's wedding. And yet they are likely more deserving of a family vacation that my husband and I are, if you base it on hours worked, blood, sweat and tears. They would "deserve" it, and my family would not.

Then on the other end are families that perhaps have come into great fortune and have no respect for it. They spend it on big trucks, gold jewelry, the best clothes, and traveling afar with no regard for even getting their bills paid on time- after all, they can afford the late fees and who needs a credit score when you can just pay cash? Most of us would say they don't deserve to travel or have those things.

So who deserves what? Obviously we don't get based on what we deserve. Because if we did, my mother would never have gotten cancer. She didn't deserve it. My daughter would never have had so much pain and loss in her past. She doesn't deserve it. My dear people of Ethiopia would not suffer in poverty because believe me, the only difference between them and you is the country you were born in. They don't deserve it. It is so easy for us to say " I/We/They don't deserve it" when it comes to the bad... But we feel justified to say that we "do deserve" all things good. I have been challenged to look at the community, country, and world and ask myself, "What do I really deserve?" and, "Is there another that really deserves it so much more?" And then lastly, " What am I gonna do about it?"

This is not to say that we can't have good things, and those that save for things shouldn't obtain the things they prepare for. None of that is what is being said. It is just simply a realization that I have had that you don't really "get what you deserve". And how can we balance compassion for those without as we continue to justify and pursue "more" in our own lives?

And lastly, since this is a blog about missions in Ethiopia, have you ever wondered if you were you but you were born in Ethiopia, how would your life be? Would you have even lived to the magic age of survival, which is 5? If you did, would you have had opportunity to get an education? And then what? What would you feel you deserved if you lived there?