Contentment

The past few days I have really been thinking about how blessed I am and how content I am with everything I have been given in this world. As I zip from place to place in my reliable car, come home to my little, comfortable one-bedroom apartment, and slide my debit card to purchase all the food and physical sustenance I could ever need, I have been realizing how peaceful I feel with what God has given me. I watch the insane Christmas spending frenzy around me and see people consumed with the latest name-brand this or newest technology that or constantly upgrading to a bigger house or more expensive car or you-fill-in-the-blank in order to somehow measure up to some expectations that originated from who knows where... who are all these people trying to please, trying to prove something to, and WHY?? It's a question I have to grapple with myself often...as we all do in this land of abundance. However, like I said, I've noticed myself feeling quite at peace from that struggle in recent weeks. I can't think of any THING that I'm needing or craving. I can't think of any THING that I lack. There's no THING on my mind that I'm dwelling on or feeling driven to try to overextend myself and acquire. And that's such a wonderful, peaceful feeling!

I think there are two definitions of contentment. One is something to strive for and one is to fight against. On one hand, contentment can be synonymous with "comfortable" and not in a good way. We can get content with where we're at in life and cease to strive for better...better relationships with people and with God, better exemplification of love in our lives, better use of our time and resources, etc. We can get lazy, in other words...stuck in mediocrity. We can get content---and lukewarm. In that sense, I never want to be content. I always want to be learning and growing and becoming more what I'm supposed to be and living this gift of life to the fullest.

On the other hand, there is a contentment that can be equated with peace from striving for the things of this world. There is the contentment that comes with being satisfied with what God has given and being able to truly say that it is "more than enough." It is being able to say that "my cup runneth over." There is such peace and such calm in that kind of contentment and it is something that I wish more of us could find...and keep. I'm so thankful for my family that has never placed much importance on material things or "keeping up with the Jones'" (whoever they are!) and the freedom they've given my life by not placing value on worldly possessions or "things" to define our worth.

So in this Christmas season, I'm enjoying just resting in my blessings and being able to honestly say that I have all I could need or want....thanks to my family and our wonderful God!

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. --1 Timothy 6:6