Wednesday Inspired

Contentment Ever After

According to the TV last night, Charlie Brown is having a hard time finding his Christmas Spirit. Something’s not right, so he searches in discontent.

I have heard it said many times this holiday season-- from some very honest people-- that they don’t quite feel the “spirit of Christmas” upon them. I too am trying to find my own Christmas spirit, but not only that, I struggle with feeling content…all year long.

Why do you think I talk about self-reflection so much? Like a good mirror, I reflect to check myself for character dilemmas. Mirror

Mirror on the wall, who is the most content soul of all?

Sometimes …it’s not me.

I count my blessings and I name them. I know them. And I know I live a blessed life. I am grateful and yet, I find at times I am easily lured into the land of discontent. Now I’m not talking about healthy discontent where you make a plan and work to better your life. No, I am talking about the restless spirit of discontent the one that may lead you where you will not want to go.

Am I alone in this?

Why do we feel the restless pull of discontent… alone in crowds…poor when we are rich?

I think it may be the ordinary life that feels too ordinary and then we feel dissatisfaction and then discontent is unveiled.

Discontentment can be a seed planted.
It can make you feel sorry for yourself.
It can make you buy things you can’t afford.
It can make you wander.
Discontentment can make you throw away good things to seek something not so good.

And discontentment can make you…
Bitter
Weak
Unsettled
Deceitful
Walk away

Discontentment can mean desiring greener grass. But, somehow we forget, the grass that grows greener on the other side will also become brown and die.

I am content most of the time. So are you. It is in those seasons of discontent that we need to guard our hearts, our minds, our souls and fight back...because discontentment can be a deal breaker in the wrong hands.

We may, just may, be discontent because we concentrate too much on what we don’t have and not so much on what we are and what we have. And sometimes the best way to find your way out of the land of discontent is to go visit another land.

This week Meredith showed me the land of content in her post and it had little to do with self. She taught me to put aside my own woes and look around me and notice. The spirit of contentment (in case you don't know) is noticing and doing for others. That’s what I learned from her post.

I believe...it’s healthier to concentrate on your blessings, even if it is just one. It is healthier to not entertain "things" we shouldn’t focus on. It’s healthier to look for hope than to look for despair. It’s just healthier to stop giving the pity parties.

So this is a message about the Christmas season- spirit. This message is to you and to me. Treat yourself well. Stop making yourself crazy with the “what ifs”. Remember you are a child of God. Remember your purpose. Hold your head high. Keep your heart free. Live large. Bless others. Embrace life because it is worth living.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 23:11 (NIV)

I will leave you with this.

An older gentleman was sitting outside on the porch of a country store. His dog sat patiently waiting beside him.
A woman had exited and was somberly waiting for someone to pick her up.
The older gentleman inhaled on his pipe and said, "See my dog?"
The woman nodded.
"That's MY dog." He pointed to the dog.

The dog wagged his whole body and then ran to the woman.
She knelt and petted the eager dog.
"That's happy." he said.
The woman couldn't help but smile at the friendly dog whose entire body shook with happiness. "He is certainly happy." She said.
The man blew out another puff of smoke. "No, Ma'am, his name IS Happy."

Do you waggle all over with happiness? Or do you walk around with your tail between your legs? Don't answer those questions unless you want, but answer this: Where do you find your contentment? What do you do when discontentment raps on your door?

Photo sources: http://wallse.net/wp/Christmas_Kitten, http://carolynbremer.com/wordpress/images/HappyDog.jpg

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