{read along} Mitten Strings for God: Wants and Needs

“…many of us are just as confused as our children.  We fail to distinguish real needs from wants, and we focus on what we don’t have rather than on the abundant gifts that are already ours.  When we are consumers, we teach our childrenthat it is good to consume.  When we try to resolve conflicts or to buy happiness by spending money, we teach our children to look outside themselves when they feel needy…On the other hand, when we pause long enough to give thanks for the abundance of daily life, when we feel good about what we have right now, we teach our children a valuable lesson: We help them accept that they can’t have everything they want, and we reassure them they they do have everything they need.” 
– Katrina Kennison, pages 65-66

In the land of instant gratification, I think this topic is one that I have to revisit often.  When I see a new product on a blog or pin beautiful homes on Pinterest, it is easy to focus on what I don’t have.  Instead, I have to make sure I focus on gratitude…in the grand scheme of things, I do have everything I need. 

What are your thoughts on wants vs. needs?