On Being Content

Reading my daily bible today I was struck by the day's introductory devotional from Max Lucado.

“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” John 6:35

It went on to remind us that there are times when the one thing we really want is the one thing we do not get. We pray and we wait and then pray and wait some more. But what if God says no to your request? What if He reminds you that you already have His grace and says that should be enough? Will you be content?

What a pertinent question and actually what does it mean to be content? Max Lucado says “content – A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than He already has”

I know contentment is something I have tried hard to work at over the last few years. I’ve very much realised that happiness does not come in the form of things or ‘more’. I recall a post I wrote on my other blog back in 2011 that said –

Do you know what I believe are two of the fundamental keys to happiness? One, is to choose to be happy and the other is to want what you already have! Endless seeking of things, money, status, time or anything else will never fulfil you!

My gut reaction is that I’ve done quite well in regards to being content but actually reading this devotional today has had me pondering this topic more deeply and I’m now left with some questions to answer.

• If I never lost any weight again and I always stayed this fat would I be content?
• If ill-health meant I lost my mobility, hearing or such, would I be content?
• If this was as good as my marriage would ever be, would I be content?
• If I never met that close girl friend that I long for, one I can really talk to and trust, would I be content?
• If my kids retained all their childish annoyances forever, would I be content?
• If we were never to own our own home or car again, would I be content?
• If I remained in voluntary work for the rest of my life, would I be content?
• If there was no money at all in the bank would I be content?

I’m sure there are loads more but these are the first questions that come to mind for me. Your set of questions could be quite different, as it will depend on where your priorities lie.

When everything is going well and there is hope for change in the future then it is easy to say that right here, right now I am content but if nothing changed again ever, would it still be the same?

Something for us to ponder on and pray about I feel.

Have a blessed week, Mich x

(This post first appeared on my (now-retired) faith blog in May 2016)

Without Me...

• The kids wouldn't get up, ready and out on time each morning for school
• They'd have to walk the 5 miles to school along the main road with no paths
• No homework would get done
• There would to no holidays organised or enjoyed
• Planned family day trips would be sparse
• Christmas and birthdays would pass by unnoticed
• No-one would receive a thank you, how are you or greeting card
• Family members would never get visited
• The bills wouldn't get paid
• All the insurances would lapse
• The mail, household paperwork and forms from school would create an impressive stack
• The car would cease to a halt or cause an accident through lack of maintenance
• The family wouldn't have home-cooked meals all together at the table
• In fact, there might not be any food in the house, as the order might get forgotten
• School lunch bookings and payments would be forgotten
• The house would be in disarray, things wouldn't get tided away until weeks later and the dust would build
• Everyone would have to dress from the laundry pile
• The kids would look quite humorous in clothes and shoes a couple of sizes too small, as nothing new has been bought
• The items to go to the charity shop or dump would build up and up
• All the regular dentist, doctors and eye checks would be forgotten
• Everyone would look like a shaggy dog without any haircuts
• Various charities would be one volunteer down  
• My blogs would fester, unloved

My Picture: His Words - Contentment

This picture is of a Victorian grotto here at the estate where I live. It is just a small shelter with fresh running water in it and in its day it had a beautiful picture painted on the back wall. It used to be that if you splashed the wall with the water the picture still appeared but sadly that's not he case any more.

When I took this picture I felt God speak to me about contentment and seeking His will and Him first and making sure that I am content with what I have. I don't have to go and live in a little hole (or grotto) so that I won't be effected by the choices of the life here on earth.  I just have to make a conscious decision to go His way and to seek Him first and when I do I will feel the contentment that only comes with knowing you are fully loved and accepted.

How are you feeling this week? Had any of those moments when you felt hard done by and as if you were missing out?  Then perhaps you ought to draw nearer and seek His will.

Do leave me a link if you have written a My picture: His words post and I'll pop a link in my post here.

Have a blessed week, Mich x

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A state of discontent #Prose4T

Life is good
How much more blessed could I be?
The move went well, the kids are happy, the husband too
Yet there is this unease
It's not right, something is up
What is it?

It feels so love-hate right now

I can't be arsed with you

But I can't keep away from you

You are like a drug, giving me highs
Stealing my time and offering little reward

You draw me in and then make me feel sad

Those feelings of inadequacy

That self-doubt that rears it's head

And I wonder what is wrong?

What is creating this unease, this imbalance?

Something needs to change

It is time to stop

To stop and take account

Where should I go?

What should I do?

My priorities need a good shake-up
A break might help
Can the answer really be so simple
Yet so darn difficult?

I know I need guidance
Lead me Lord
Hear my prayers

I'm taking the opportunity this week to link up with Vic over at Verily Victoria Vocalises for her #Prose4T link up. I don't really get involved with writing poetry or prose very often at all and I think a lot of that is down to being embarrassed of not having much skill in this area but today I feel like it and it is my blog and that is the way it goes!

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If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!