If you’ve been around here for a little while, you might remember when I wrote and published my first devotional book, Real Mom, Real Faith last year. Well, I’ve been working on another one!
My next devotional book is titled Real Mom, Real Grace: Everyday Encouragement for Imperfect Moms, and today I thought I’d share a little peek inside!
This devotion was inspired by something I noticed about myself during our recent beach vacation. It’s funny how God can use something as ordinary as seashells and thrift shopping to teach us something about our hearts.
Look Up From the Sand
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. —1 Timothy 6:6–8
Our family loves our yearly beach vacation. From swimming in the ocean to going out for ice cream, we enjoy all the classic vacation activities each summer. There are two things I especially delight in while we’re there: finding seashells and thrift shopping.
I find myself with my head down as I comb the beach for the most beautiful shells I can find. Swirls and ridges, pink and tan colors, large and small—I’m always on the hunt for that perfect shell.
You’ll also find me scouring the Maps app on my phone as I plan thrift shopping adventures and drag my poor family along for the ride. My kids don’t quite appreciate the whole “one man’s trash is another person’s treasure” sentiment just yet. 😂
This year, as I spent time at the beach with my eyes glued to the sand in search of beautiful shells, I found one! It was tan and curved so gorgeously. I know next to nothing about seashells, but it looked like part of a small conch shell. What a find!
And you know what I did?
I immediately kept searching for another shell.
During our trip, my mom and I visited a thrift store. I found a beautiful church dress for Sadie for less than $5. It was such a great find!
The next day, I wondered if we could hit up another thrift store. So we did. I found Koko the cutest little dress with a cupcake on it.
And then I saw on Maps that there was another thrift store right down the road.
“Maybe we could stop by there tomorrow?” I asked.
As I went in search of swirly seashells and cute thrift store finds, I realized something:
My soul was restless in even these small things.
I wanted to find the next best seashell and the greatest thrift find. When I found something amazing, my mind immediately jumped to what else might be out there, just waiting to be discovered.
I caught myself in the quest for the next best thing.
So I stopped searching.
I looked up from the sand and watched my kids splash in the waves. I closed the Maps app and took a picture of Koko in her $5 cupcake-themed dress.
I may have taken home a few seashells and thrift store treasures, but more importantly, I took home a desire for contentment—to be right where I am in life and receive it with gratitude, trusting that God has lovingly placed me here.
We don’t need to find the next best thing. We don’t need to keep hunting for more.
There will always be another seashell, another thrift store, another interesting experience, another thing we think might finally satisfy us.
But when we view our lives in light of eternity—remembering that we brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it—we can loosen our grip on the search for more and learn to treasure what God has already lovingly placed before us.
Sometimes the treasure isn’t the next shell waiting to be found. It’s not the new thrift store just down the road. It’s what’s right in front of us when we finally look up.
This devotional is adapted from my upcoming book, Real Mom, Real Grace: Everyday Encouragement for Imperfect Moms. I’m excited to share more as I continue working on it. 😊
If you’re itching to read more now, check out my first devotional Real Mom, Real Faith!
