contentment

As I sit this morning watching the neighbor’s cat on my fence, I can’t but help notice him almost smirking at the world as he sits contentedly observing the quiet neighborhood. How many of us can honestly say, “I am content”?

There is sometimes an ever pervasive sense of having to get things done, worrying about our tomorrows and feeling that we are inadequate in so many ways. We long for what is missing in our lives and even though we have been blessed beyond measure, we fall into disgruntlement.

One evening a hard-working, tired man stopped to rest at the side of the road on his way home to his family. A woman with flowers happened to come by with her cart full of beautiful, perfumed blossoms. The man suddenly felt invigirated and asked her how much money for some of the flowers.

She told him, “take what you want.”

He replied, “but how much are they?”

“For you, they are free today. Your thank you is enough.”

And so the man took an armful and returned home to share them with his family. Because he loved them and wanted to preserve them, he planted the seeds in the garden and enjoyed them. They grew and so did his family.

Over the years, neighbors or vistors came and the children played in the yard and all enjoyed the solace of the garden, the comfort of the greenery and the spiritual nourishment that so many craved. The flowers continued to bloom despite the man’s warnings to be careful when anyone walked among the plants and he and his wife were content.

But as the years went by, the man became worried about his flowers. And because he wanted to be sure to protect them, he built a high wall around the garden. When his children and friends came to visit, he would only allow a few to enter the garden and they were told to be very careful walking and playing.

This of course caused concern among the family. The man set up rules about what they could do in the garden, how they would enter and even who could access the garden. The flowers though, continued to bloom under the care of the water and sun.

Time went on and grandchildren began to appear. This ony caused the man to fear even more for his garden. Precautions, requirements and rules were put into place even to the point of having lawyers to become involved for members of his family to access the beauty.

Gradually, the man’s family experienced less and less of the garden, the flowers, the peace and serenity the place offered and so they went off to search for the flower lady. The wonder of it all, was that she was still giving away her flowers. Source | John Aurelio, Colors. Stories of the Kingdom

The bible talks about contentment. Being content with what we have, to be content in the Lord, to be content with whatever situation we are in,,,,,

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:6-12

How content are you?