A word has been coming up fairly frequently in our house lately.
Entitlement.
You hear it on the news and read it in the papers.
Merriam-Webster defines it as:
- 1. the state of condition of being entitled.
- 2. a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group. (Like Social Security)
- 3. belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges.
Dictionary.com said the same as 1 & 2.
Most of the definitions say entitlement is bestowed. It is given by a person or group to another person or group.
It’s definition number 3 from Merriam-Webster that has taken over our culture.
We think we’re entitled to
- happiness
- a new car
- a vacation home
- a designer purse
- an iPhone
- a pony
- an A on a test we didn’t study or prepare for but we deserve the grade because we knew the material but it’s not our fault Mom forgot to …
The list could go on and on and on and…
Anyway, my point (and I do have one) is that I am not entitled to anything. Not a home with air conditioning when it’s 110 degrees outside. Not a car. Not a library card.
Those are gifts, precious and wonderful. But I don’t deserve them. Those kids in the photo at the top look very excited about getting to ride their pony. I wonder (if they owned it) how long it took before they complained about feeding it and cleaning up its poop and brushing its hair.
I need to remember this when I get whiny about having to wait while my printer spits out the next pages of my manuscript. When I wait in line to put gas in my car. And when the dog carries off my new shoe.
I’ll try to remember, but I “make no guarantees.” (That’s another catchphrase around our house. Can you name that movie?")
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Today I’m praying for Lisa, Laura M., Joyce, and Toni.
Last movie: Eclipse!!
Last book: Meander Scar by Lisa J. Lickel
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