A Class in Contentment

So today as I was talking with a wise woman of God, she basically said … “Soo…what you really need is to learn to be content, right?”  Darn. I hate it when they say that.  I hate it when they’re right.  I’d rather just insist that my circumstances change.  I’d rather just pray that God will go –poof!- and hand me the life of my dreams.  So, in my mind I say to God, “But God, you can’t really expect me to be content right now right?  I mean, I’m almost 28 years old and I’m back living with my parents and I don’t have a car and so I’m trapped out in the boonies and we don’t have an income and it rains all the time so we can’t go outside and I’ve got mommyhood and wifehood and school and being a daughter and I don’t have any friends around here and it’s all just so messed up … I can’t be content now right?”  And of course … I look to God’s word and who do I have to compare myself to?  Yup. Paul (Phil. 4).  Of all guys, Paul.  Shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, put in jail, slandered, hungry, cold, tired.  Yeah—ok my little garden variety hardships would definitely fall somewhere in the Not-Very-Difficult column. 

So, I take her advice and my heart says, “Ok God.  Paul said we can learn to be content.  I’m all about learning, right? I mean, I’m in seminary.  I love to learn.  So, will you help me?”  So that’s what I prayed today, because I know I can’t be content without God’s help, although strangely enough even as I’m writing this somehow I’m finding myself more and more contented and my heart feels lighter already … is it supposed to begin working that fast? 

Well I know it’s no magic formula, but this is my first thought on contentment:  The key to contentment is … you guessed it, humility.  (Humility is the key to everything by the way – I’ve already learned that if the answer’s not “Jesus!” it’s “Humility!”)
But truly, Pride says, “I deserve better than this!”  Humility says, “Thank you God that I am even alive.”  Pride grabs.  Humility takes notice of every tiny blessing and offers prayers of gratitude to the Giver of Life.  Humility breeds thankfulness and thankfulness breeds contentment.  So my goal, at least until I can get a better handle on this stuff, is to focus on thankfulness and contentment for a while on this here blog.  I’m not trying to be any less “real” than before, I’m just trying to train my heart to see with eyes of love.

Tonight I’m truly, genuinely grateful for a delicious dinner that my mom made—the beef stroganoff was incredible, and I’m thankful for the four chocolate cookies that I sneaked from my dad’s snack cupboard (he sneaks my treats too so it’s fair!).  Neither the dinner nor the cookies would have been available to me unless we lived here!   I’m thankful for the rainless day that enabled me to take Dutch for a walk; we were able to see the river, a new little pony at the neighbor’s house, and a dead mouse on the road that provided fascination for Dutch.  I’m thankful for a great talk Jeff and I had tonight, where we were really able to connect and be in agreement on where God has us and determine together to rejoice and praise God for where he has us.  I’m so thankful for Foothills, a truly God-centered, God-loving church with leaders and staff who love us and welcome us accept us just as we are.  I’m thankful for Lorrie, who has met with me and counseled me and loved me and listened to me so much.  I’m thankful for her wisdom and insight, her truth and love and support.  I’m thankful for a week off school next week!  And I’m thankful that in one month SPRING will be here!  Ok, off for now … I’d love to hear from you if you have any insights or wisdom or advice on contentment.  Or if you’ve arrived and are the authority on the subject, let me know. 😉