Contentment
Hey Folks! Thanks for stopping through and checking out the blog. This entry is a guest suggested topic given to me last week. Someone asked me to write about contentment.
The picture above reads, "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of what you already have." What strong statement to accurately define contentment. Not even focusing on what you don't have or what you want BUT a REALIZATION of what you already have! WOW! If you're an avid shopper like me, you find yourself in a pretty interesting position. Well, actually, I've gotten alot better! I'll pick up something with the intention of buying it, then I'll think about what I have at home already. I end up putting it back because of my CONTENTMENT for what I have at home ALREADY.
One of the most infamous passages used as "My Favorite Scripture" is Philippians 4:13. The sad part is MANY people use it out of it's original and intended context. Paul saying "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." isn't some phsycological-pump me up statement that will give me the courage to jump off a 50 ft building believing I can do it because Christ strengthens me. ABSOLUTELY NOT! LOL, People often take that piece of scripture and leave the rest alone. In verses prior to that one, Paul talks about how he has been with and how he has been without because the people of Philippi want to offer him gifts as a missionary. His response is one of humility in saying, (Philippians 4: 10-13) "I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and i know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength." Other versions even use the term CONTENT several times in that passage of scripture. He's talking about contentment.
One last example that just came to my mind is from the movie "Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith and his son Jaden. I LOVE THAT MOVIE! A perfect example of contentment is given in this movie and it's not by Will Smith or any of the adult characters; it comes from Jaden. There was a time when they were in the shelter and Will Smith asked Jaden if he wanted to share a bed with his dad for the rest of his life. Contentment is shown in Jaden's response. He says, (paraphrasing) "Dad, I don't mind...You're a good poppa." He wasn't worried about what he didn't have, but realized that if he had his dad and a bed to sleep in; he would be okay.
Hope this helps. Contentment.
