“…for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” -Philippians 4:11
That’s a quote from the Bible peeps – written by Paul while he was in prison – not me declaring that I have figured out how to be content!
Seriously.
He was in PRISON! And he writes in a letter that he’s learned to be content with whatever he has.
Wow.
Paul had figured out that God was enough – God would supply anything he needed. And he was also content in the fact that even if God allowed his life to be taken God was still enough!
I started thinking about all this yesterday when I was feeling a bit pouty about the fact that it’s still winter and it’s cold. Oh it’s not near as cold as it has been a week or so ago but it’s still cold. 34° at 3 in the afternoon is not warm and don’t bother to tell me how much worse it could be. It’s cold.
I was feeling pouty because I needed to run a couple errands. Technically I only really NEEDED to go to the bank and I could go to the drive-up so it wasn’t too bad. The other thing I wanted to do was stop at the RedBox and rent a movie so my hubby and I could have a stay-at-home-date-night.
As I was feeling pouty and on my way to becoming downright grumpy I paused and gave myself a mini, mental lecture. And decided instead of being pouty and becoming grumpy I’d be thankful about a few things instead.
Thankful that I had a check to deposit at the bank.
Thankful that I had a coat, hat, and boots to put on so I wouldn’t get so cold on my short excursion.
Thankful that I had a car to drive instead of having to walk.
Thankful that I am healthy and could go out to do my own errand running.
Thankful that I could afford to rent a movie 😀
Thankful that I have a wonderful hubby to have a stay-at-home-date-night with.
Thankful that winter never lasts forever.
And the list could just keep on going. You know what I discovered about this little exercise I put myself through? When you start being thankful, it never ends! One think leads to another and pretty soon you have so many things to be thankful for that you can’t remember what you were pouting about in the first place!
So. I’ve decided that to be content I need to first be thankful. And being truly thankful and focusing on blessings and most importantly, where those blessings come from, leads directly into complete contentedness!
No, life isn’t perfect. There can be, and probably will be, many trials and things to pout about. But by concentrating on being thankful I can in turn learn to be content.
Have a Blessed Sunday!
Jill
A big AMEN! I so needed that. Thank you.
I really needed to hear that comforting pep talk today.
Thanks !!!
It is all in your perspective! Are you going to wallow in the negative or joyfully sing with the positive? It is amazing how just adjusting what you have running through your mind can change everything! Dwelling on the positive is so much more rewarding than the negative. The great part is that we get to choose what we want to dwell on. I’ll take the positive and all the blessings I have received 🙂
This was by far EXACTLY what I needed too! Thank you for sharing this today.
Let’s all continue this thankfulness, gratefulness, blessed beyond what we deserve attitude going.
Have a spectacular weekend everyone.
Be blessed & Be a blessing, Hope
AMEN!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Every time I start to feel sorry for my self (I have a chronic illness), I remember all those poor souls I took care of when I was a nurse who were a lot worse off than I am. I can walk, roll over in bed, scratch my nose if it itches, feed myself, go to the bathroom without appliances like catheters, and the list goes on. I am so thankful to the Lord for his tremendous blessings in my life including people like you, Jill. Thank you for the reminder to be thankful.
Truly.
Growing in Gratitude has been impressed upon me over and over in the last couple of years.
If I Lose my comment (such as it is) again (twice already), will come back tomorrow. sigh.
Thank you dear friend for helping to keep me on straight and narrow. I’ve left up several of thankful printables I framed, never hurts to remind myself and hubs. They really do help.
I could wish for many things but do look around and think how much harder life could be, (I hope not) and think about all good things in our lives we do have, simple things that don’t cost either of us anything, monetary wise at least. I feel very lucky and appreciative to have a wonderful friend such as yourself. Hope your date night was fun and you both enjoyed it. Those are important at any age. Have great rest of weekend, yeahoo, made it thru without losing comment. QUick before I do.
I like! A lot! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Agreed 100%, Jill! 🙂 It’s all about perspective.