CONTENTMENT
noun
a
state of happiness and satisfaction.
It’s
an interesting word in 2017. Contentment. Is it just me or do we not use this word much
any more? Being content today seems to
paint a picture of an under-achiever or one who is lazy. And yet by definition, contentment is a
“state of happiness and satisfaction.”
Isn’t that
what we want in our lives and for our families?
Contentment
certainly isn’t synonymous with September and the start of school. We are all too eager to get back in the swing
of things and bring on the activity!!! Games, practices, homework, lessons,
meetings, luncheons, extracurricular, and the list goes on!
A collective
sigh of relief that “we’re back to normal!”
But
I learned a great lesson from my friend, Anne, one day as I was going from lesson
to lesson and practice to practice with my eldest daughter and baby on board,
along for the ride. We dropped by Anne’s
house to hang out for a few minutes while we had a break between guitar
practice and gymnastics, and the strangest thing was happening.
She and her
kiddos were playing a game in the middle of the living room floor.
What?
Why weren’t they out and about pursing their dreams? For heaven’s sake, her
children were 8 and 5! It was go time!
“Anne, Is this your daily afternoon routine?
Or is this just an off day?” I asked.
She
replied in the softest voice ever, “You know, Lisa, I choose to cherish the
days. There will be plenty of time to do
all those things when my children are older and can choose for themselves what
they’d like to pursue. I choose today to
enjoy our little family and make memories together. I just don’t think the rush is right for
us. We’re
choosing contentment.”
It’s a
choice. We have a choice.
Consider
this: Pray. Pray over your schedule. Pray over your family’s schedule. Pray over all those activities. Pray over the teams you join. Pray over what you say YES to and what you
say NO to. It’s all a choice.
Choosing
to be content isn’t choosing for mediocrity.
It’s choosing joy. It’s choosing
happiness. It might not look like your
neighbor’s choice. But it might be right
for your family.
"Not that I was ever in
need, for I have learned how to be content
with whatever I have.”
I like very much for this article. Inspired me very well. I will remember and follow to make me happy.
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