Content With Who I Am

Have you ever just stopped to think about the word "content"?

Dictionary.com defines content as "in a state of peaceful happiness."

It gives synonyms like pleased, satisfied, glad, complacent.

I have one of those perpetual calendar thingamajigs on my desk at school.

I don't usually change it, it's just there.

(As a matter of fact, it was on September 8th when I changed it this morning.)

Why did I decide to change it today of all days?

Beats me.

But here was the quote for November 28:

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--

no more, no less.  That's the moment you find yourselves

proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. 

He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat." 

Matthew 5:5-6 The Message

Now, normally I am strictly a King James kind of girl.

But this.

This really hit me.

And as I roamed around my classroom full of second graders, I was constantly thinking in the back of my head.

Content.

Am I content?

Am I happy with what I have?

My Sunday School lesson this past week was on the Ten Commandments.

I had spent a lot of time wondering how I was going to explain to my small group of 8 year olds what the word "covet" means.

I settled on telling them that we should not spend all of our time wishing we had someone else's blessings and enjoy the blessings that He has given us.

Hmmmm.

Maybe I needed to be listening to my own lesson?

I never want to be "content" with my service to God.

I want to be a God-fearing, prayer warrior-ing, armored up, geared-up, ready to fight for His honor kind of a gal.

Not "just" content.

But, there are some things in my life that do make me content.

My home.

My kids.

My marriage.

My church family.

 And my girls. . . my prayer warrior girls.  My Bible study girls.

 My pastors.  The I'm-not-afraid-to-step-on-your-toes kind of pastors.





Preacher Dale


                        Preacher Paul




Things that, when I take the time to look around at what God has blessed me with, I wouldn't change for the world.

The best way I know to finish out my thoughts are to share a small quote from the book I am currently reading:

Author Katrina Kenison reflects,

". . .Not a day goes by that I don't still need to remind myself

that my life is not just what's handed to me,

nor is it my list of obligations,

my accomplishments or failures,

or what my family is up to,

but rather it is what I choose,

day in and day out, to make of it all. 

When I am able simply to be with things as they are,

able to accept the day's challenges

without judging, reaching, or wishing for something else,

 I feel as if I am receiving the priviege,

coming a step closer to being myself."

Wow.  What a powerful statement. 

THAT'S the kind of contentment I want in my life.

To stop worrying about what everyone else has and to start enjoying what I have and what God has made me to be.

It's just a thought. . .