7. The Habit of Entitlement
Slide 7 of 7
I think this one hit home for most of us very early on. We can’t go on that trip? I can’t eat out with friends? Can the government really tell us what to do?
We don’t like the idea of anyone controlling or mandating what we do (and if you think about this long term it’s pretty scary.)
But this is the way some people in other countries have lived their entire lives. Perhaps now we can have a better outlook on the liberties and freedoms and health we had before—and realize it is something to be grateful for, not feel entitled about.
I remember when my daughter and her friends were very young and complained about being “bored” in spite of a myriad of opportunities, entertainment, and toys around them. Yet that same child, now 27 years old, is happy putting together puzzles, connecting with friends and co-workers online.
She is appreciating having a home, two parents still working, and a government that seeks to compensate tax-paying Americans who are hurting financially right now.
What better time is there for us to stop our feelings of entitlement (and it’s not just the millennials—it’s all of us) and start being grateful for the very air we breathe (especially if it’s disease-free)?
Had we gone through this pandemic in the ‘80s we wouldn’t have known how to survive it without the internet.
If we went through it in the ‘90s we wouldn’t have been able to connect with others as we do now on social media.
And if we went through it just a decade ago, what would we have done without live streaming services and Amazon Prime? We still have convenience (and luxury) at our fingertips. Our lives today don’t even compare to what people went through during the 1918 flu epidemic that affected a quarter of the world’s population and took the lives of nearly 20 million people.
This virus outbreak is reminding us of the blessings of technology, advances in medicine and medical facilities, and breakthroughs in medical science and vaccines. Yes, this pandemic—and accompanying quarantine—just may make us a less selfish, more thankful, and far less entitled society than we’ve ever been.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Aaron Amat
Cindi McMenamin is a pastor’s wife, award-winning writer, national speaker, and the author of several books to help women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and one another. She and her husband, Hugh, co-authored the book When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection. Some of her books to help you combat fear and strengthen your trust in God include When Women Walk Alone (more than 145,000 copies sold), Women on the Edge, Drama Free: Finding Peace When Emotions Overwhelm You and When Women Long for Rest. You can find out more about her ministry, books, and free resources at www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.