What Is Irreplaceable?

Do you ever think about what can’t be replaced in your life? I was reminded of this by a man whose recovery from an illness had been very long and difficult. He said, “Victoria, I see my life in a completely different light than before I got sick. Today, my precious things are family and friends. I’ve realized that appreciating what you have every day is what’s important.” Why does it seem as though we have to lose or almost lose something or someone before we recognize their value and appreciate them? Why does it take a crisis to wake us up from taking for granted what is irreplaceable? 

In Deuteronomy 6:10–12, God was taking the children of Israel into the Promised Land and describing all the blessings He was freely giving them. “I’m giving you houses filled with great treasure, vineyards you didn’t plant, and fields you didn’t plow.” But then He warned them, “Don’t take them for granted. Don’t forget who gave it to you. Honor Me in it.” They were to remember the gifts and abundance in their lives through appreciation. But it wasn’t long before they faced challenges, things weren’t easy, and they started complaining about their hardships.  

Don’t you think God is saying the same thing to us today? We live in a great country where whatever we need is basically at our fingertips. Our houses have running water, electricity, and every convenience. We have places to work and worship and stores of all kinds. Most importantly, there’s our spouse, our children, our parents, siblings, and friends. But then we start to forget the precious gift they really are, and we neglect them. We face challenges at our jobs and in our homes, things go wrong, and we start to complain about work, having to make dinner and clean the house, having to help a friend. We forget to be grateful to God for what He has given, then we lose the language of appreciation. 

When we appreciate God, and we appreciate the things God has given us, we give Him thanks and honor Him. Appreciation is a language we need to learn, and gratitude honors God. That’s why, wherever you are today, no matter how difficult it is, ask God to show you, “Where’s the value in this, God? This is something You’ve brought to me, so how can I appreciate it?” When you look for the lessons in what you’re experiencing, when you look for what can build your character, when you see the treasure in the people you love, that’s when you’re going to find the value and the purpose. Happy people are the ones who value and appreciate what they have right now on the way to where they’re going.