Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Favorite Things and Contentment

I think I have writers block, or is it called bloggers block for people like me who aren't really writers. So, I'll just write whatever pops into my head and see how it turns out.

These are a few of my favorite things: sunsets, ocean breezes, mountains, mountain streams, the beach, fires in my fireplace on a cold night, rainy days, my family singing around the piano, old farmhouses, hugs from my hubby, seeing my children smile, 4:30 on weekday afternoons, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. I'm pretty much content with the things I have. Yes, I would love having a bigger, newer house out in the country, but I'm fine if I don't get one. I'm just thankful to have a place to live that keeps me warm in the winter, cool in the summer and dry when it rains -- it's big enough for our family plus the visitors who don't mind sleeping on a couch or the carpet. I would love having all the latest fashions in clothes and shoes and purses, but I don't mind wearing last year's clothes or even the clothes from five years ago. I'm just thankful to have decent things to wear. Of course I would love to have a beautifully decorated house, but when I really stop to think about it, I probably couldn't relax when 15 young men are staying at our house if I had a lot of really nice things in it. The way it is now, I don't worry about them messing up anything, because there's really nothing they can mess up.

I don't really know what the secret of being content is, but I think it has something to do with having a relationship with Christ and being secure in Him. The more I get to know the Lord by reading His Word, the more content I become. The more I am grateful for the things I do have, and the less I think about what I don't have, the more content I seem to be. I will leave you with a couple of quotes that I like and a Bible verse.

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
Frederick Keonig

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
Epicurus quotes

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

10 comments:

Missy said...

Kathy - True contentment is never found in things - only in relationships. The most important relationship is with Jesus Christ. Everything else will diminish when we allow Him to become more important.

Thanks for sharing from your heart. Too many times, I allow other things to bring me discontent!

Michelle said...

I loved your blog and I have slowly been trying to get content in certain areas of my life. Hopefully I will soon.

matt said...

Kathy is one of my favorite bloggers. Tell your daughter I said hey. How is school treating her?

Cliff said...

Kathy,

I'm glad you're not a writer, because if you were, you'd be on strike now;-D

But on another note, this post should give those who read it a good devotion to meditate on.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."- Hebrews 13:5 KVJ

Amel said...

BEAUTIFUL post, Kathy! :-)))

LOVE everything you wrote, incl. the quotations and the Bible verse. ;-D

Stylin said...

Hi Kathy
Its the random stuff that you blog about that encourages everyone !
Sometimes I have that feeling of being so content that I am scared to admit it...in case it changes !

Kathy said...

Strawberry, yes, I think we all allow other things to bring us discontent at times. That's when we have to start counting our blessings and things start falling into place then.

Kasper, Thanks! I hope you will find the contentment you've been looking for.

Matt, well, thanks! You are one of my favorite bloggers, too! Daughter's doing okay with school right now -- if she and her boyfriend break up, I'm gonna have to hook you and her up on facebook or something.

74wixygrad, thanks for your encouraging words. That verse goes perfectly with my post; wish I'd thought about using it.

Amel, thanks...glad you liked it all!

Frasypoo, I am so glad that you feel content, too. Thanks for your sweet words!

Cliff said...

Only problem is that I should have put KJV instead of KVJ. I posted that at 3:53am my time so my brain wasn't functioning correctly.

Lori said...

For having writer block, this sure turned out to be a great post. I am glad you are content with the things the Lord has provided for you.

Sindi said...

Kat,
This was a great posts. Thank you so much, I needed that.
Accually, what I need is a good kick in the pants.

I have been a little sad lately and a bit crabby over wanting better. Not as in better belongings, because I have been giving away a lot of what we have and will not allow any more no nonsence spending, but quality of life.

I have been biting my hubbies head off about how he acts in public and how he speaks and maybe I should just be happy I have a hubby at all. Sometimes I just need to wake up and smell the coffee.