June 22, 2013
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Contentment.
Being content can be an incredibly difficult thing. Incredibly. Going to weddings of kids much younger than you, people you stood in their wedding are now expecting, or kids who were much younger than you that got married are now expecting, others are buying houses, people losing weight or doing crazy races. We're constantly fed with new exciting news. How? Social media. Rarely anyone lays out there dirty laundry on social media. Why? That wouldn't get many comments or likes. People (for the most part) don't want to read that. It's a constant flow of information. Refresh Facebook. 10 new updates. Refresh Twitter. Same thing.
And I'm...living in my parent's basement reading books about being single in the church. I laughed tonight as one girl on my basketball proclaimed she'd be married by at least 22. Although I was never that girl to plan or daydream about my wedding (I'm still not) - I can tell you I didn't think I'd be where I am today as a HS kid or even in college. I will also say, I know for certain some things in my life wouldn't be what they are today if I were married with kids. God's plan and timing are perfect. I recognize that, even in my moments of discontentment.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm genuinely happy for the above and these people. It's great and what a huge blessing it is to see others being blessed in these ways. Nor is it there job to make sure I feel content. My contentment isn't based off someone or something else. At least it shouldn't be. The Lord is just blessing me differently. I believe that and I know that but it still makes contentment difficult, at times...because we I compare, compare, compare. I'm sure you've heard the quote, "The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." Possibly this is true. Everyone else seems to have it all together. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?
Paul said he had learned to be content in every situation had been in...shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned and so on.
Philippians 4:11-12
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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."
Luke 12:15
"Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
1 Timothy 6:6-7
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."
So there you go, a little raw behind-the-scenes. Learning to be content. Most days, I truly am. Today just got me a little. It's a work in progress as I learn over and over again.
Comments (2)
Truth. Another thing I've been telling myself is that the people I'm jealous of are probably jealous of something in my life. I went to Justin's soccer game the other day. He's playing on a summer league with his old college friends. All their wives were sitting in the stands in their designer clothes, with their hair coiffed perfectly, all size zeroes, etc. But not a single one of them has kids. Which is surprising considering how long we've all been married. So maybe while I'm sitting there coveting their waistlines, their coveting my ability to have kids?
Thanks for the reminder about contentment being learned!
@babyvk - Sadie, that's a really good point. This saying also just came to mind, "Someone else is happy with less than what you have" ...in general, we just do too much comparing. This is going to sound awful but it's fitting. I think that about my weight. I get next to skinny gorgeous girls and think it's time to get motivated then I get next to someone fatter than myself and thing, at least I'm not that fat. That in my mind is fitting to contentment and comparing - not sure if you followed it though. In the end, I think it comes down to being thankful for what God has blessed us with...however small or big the blessing may be.