redpinemountain.com

Contentment Redux

Today I came across a post about praying to God for wealth. And while it was an interesting and well written article, it has never occurred to me to pray for financial riches. Yes, I have read “The Secret” and yes, I do believe there is truth to the Laws of Attraction but to actually sit down in daily prayer and ask for wealth, no, I will not do that for I believe I have already been blessed by God in so many ways and have received in my life thus far everything I need for the journey I am on.

And, that once again brings me back to contentment.

When I posed the question on contentment, I received so many thoughtful and insightful responses. I was humbled as I read them. I kept returning to them again and again and I thought they deserved a wider audience so I am including excerpts from them in this blog post.

Laurie wrote “Contentment is achieved when you come to the realization that the only control you have is your faith in God…The path is there, let go and follow it. And some wonder where ambition and wanderlust come into that…but God knows our heart and that’s part of our path…right?”

If we believe, if we have faith every day and practice our faith, how can we fail to be content?

Cally expressed that to her “contentment is a funny word. I am happy but I cannot be content. I always want more, more, more…I want more time with my children, more closeness with my husband, more beauty in my days, more I can give to others. But I can say I am not discontent.”

I can understand and relate to Callie’s desire to want more of what is precious and beautiful in life. And, yes, perhaps contentment is a funny word.

Karen and Chris both find contentment in a beautiful day, enjoying the fresh air, the flowers.

Chris finds contentment in knowing her husband is in the garage puttering while her dogs lie beside her chewing on their bones.

There is so much beauty in knowing all is right in our world.

Chris also expressed feeling closer to her cousin who had died of cancer when she sat under a beautiful August sky and listened to the birds singing.

I, too, still feel my husband in a sunset that illuminates the sky.

Karen spoke about how content she is with having a good job, a nice home, a loving husband and opportunities to serve the God almighty. She also shared this passage from 1 Timothy 4:6&8: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and clothing with these we shall be content.”

What a beautiful verse.

Rayne expressed contentment as feeling secure in your life, marriage and family. Not feeling any uncertainty.

To me, there is great contentment in being surrounded by a loving family.

Pastoral Princess said that contentment for her is seeing and feeling her blessings.
She went on to describe growing a living human being inside her body, seeing the smiles on her children’s faces and smelling the air after the rain.

What beautiful images.

And Alan shared with us “Life is a path..full of the good and bad..but you have to keep moving along it…When it’s good…enjoy. When it’s bad…just keep moving.”

Yes, we all are going to be faced with struggles throughout our lives. Contentment to me does not mean days of problem free living nor mindless living. It means acknowledging the pain, striving for improvement but at the same time seeing the beauty that surrounds us and being present in the moment.

We hear so much about what is wrong with the world and society today but if we stop for a moment to share with others what is in our hearts, maybe we can start to focus on the positive.