Contentment…
Gratitude…
They certainly go hand in hand.
I generally think of myself as a pretty grateful person. And a pretty content person.
But as I was reading a devotion from Wisdom for Mothers I was challenged.
I was given pause by a few things the author said…
“Thankfulness is a vaccine against selfishness and discontentment.”
and
“Contentment and gratitude will erupt from the heart of your child, when they engage people who smile in the face of ugly circumstances. They see firsthand that joy comes from Jesus, not stuff.”
…joy comes from Jesus, not stuff…
Sure I knew that. Don’t we all? But I like my stuff! And, can I be honest here? I’m spoiled. And sometimes it’s not always tangible stuff. It can be any stuff that I’m discontent about.
I’ve been caught in the “if only” game.
I’d be happier…I’d like it better…life would be nicer…
if only - I had nicer furniture
if only – the cost of living wasn’t so high here
if only – we had more money
if only - I had a new cell phone
if only – I could text
if only – I had Facebook
if only – I had a blog {eek!}
if only – I had “xyz” title
if only – prettier plants grew in South Florida {ha!}
if only – I wasn’t seemingly always pregnant or nursing
if only, if only, if only…
As if those things would really make me happy! Sure, they’d make me happy in the moment. No, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with those things. However, let’s face it, some “if onlys” are pretty ridiculous! And if I’m honest, I can say that I realize that getting those things with the spoiled attitude I’ve had about them, would only lead me farther down the “if only” path of discontentment.
As I was having my quiet time and pondering through this lack of contentment and lack of gratitude in my life, I was reminded that every single thing I have is a gift from above. If I can embrace what I have been given as the gift that it is and be happy in Him instead of in stuff, then that would be true contentment.
There is so, so, so much in my life to be grateful for! But even more than being grateful for my stuff, I am learning to be grateful in Christ. Because all these things in life {possessions, money, family, cell phones, blogs} come and go, but He alone remains the same. Being grateful for who He is. Being grateful for what He has done. Being grateful in Him. Because true joy is only found in Him.
When I complain or whine or mope or say “if only” I am failing to realize that He has allowed and has not allowed each of those things in my life in His sovereignty and in His own perfect plan. And I know deep down {though I don’t always live it} that I can trust His plan completely because it is perfect. Ah…to rest in Him completely!
It’s certainly a process, and I’m only learning… but…
I’m ready to say…
Goodbye “if only” synrdrome! And hello gratitude, contentment, and joy in Christ!
Thank you Jenna for the great reminder! This is always something I can work on in my life.