I came across a funny thing on Twitter. It was quite funny actually, funnier than the Not Will Ferrell tweeter. But then it started making me think. Maybe I'm thinking too much into it, I'll let you leave your comments below.
You see, this tweeter is called FirstWorldPains. All of the tweets coming from here mention problems only those living in first world countries would have. Things like: "I don't have enough room in my closet for all of my clothes", "My drink is getting cold but I don't want to get up for more ice" or "My iPod doesn't have anymore memory left". I've even tweeted with the hashtag of #firstworldpain behind it because reading all of them everyday got me thinking - is this worth complaining about?
~ Today it's a whopping 49 degrees out. But my heat has been off since the beginning of March and I don't want to turn it on to get the lowest possible heating bill ever.
~I had to go grocery shopping in the rain today.
~My cell phone doesn't hold a long enough charge anymore.
~I'm so done with college classes and just want to be done.
Really, as someone living in the United States of America, should I be complaining? There are children living in literal city dumps with tin roofs on their shacks. People stand on the corner asking for money to just get a nice warm meal or cup of coffee. I have a smart phone with an unlimited data plan - I use facebook and twitter more than I make phone calls. There are people that would love to go to college but can't and I'm only a year away from graduating with a degree in elementary education with a minor in biblical studies. What is there to complain about? Really.
So I used to follow First WorldPains lightheartedly and laugh along at the snobbishness of my own country. But I have to say I've been convicted pretty hard. What really do I have to complain about? I live in a beautiful home that is much bigger than we really need. I drive one of the safest vehicles on the road. My husband makes enough money that I can stay at home to finish my degree. My children are healthy, happy, and alive. I have been saved and live amongst God's creation.
But where do I draw the line? When is it OK to recognize that I am among one of the luckiest people in the world. God blessed me with life in the US, not a third world country stricken with poverty or raging in a war. When can I take advantage of this blessing and complain when I realize I forgot something all the way upstairs and I don't feel like going to get it but I really need it? When can I complain without guilt that we can't afford the hopper for Direct TV even though we already have a DVR that plays on all TV's? Where is the line? We tithe to our church every week. We support a child in the Compassion International program. I will be going on a missions trip to Guatemala in the next few years. The 5K I ran this past weekend was to support my sister's church mission trip to Nicaragua this summer. We donate to various organizations over the year with our time and money. Is this enough to complain that my hands are really cold right now but I'm sitting on a huge sectional couch in my home where my roof isn't leaking?
So should I go without just because others go without? It doesn't seem logical that I should live in the city dump or not wash my clothes or not bathe every day just because others can't. So where's the line? How do I balance this life I have here in America without forgetting those who aren't so lucky?
