Well, he has finally decided. His first two fingers on his right hand make a perfect fit, especially with a handful of silky blanket tucked up under his chin. This, for Caleb, is contentment.
And then there's me. When I first decided that my word for the year would be contentment, I must confess that it took me a few days to come up with a satisfactory definition. Webster's dictionary defined contentment as "happiness with one's situation in life." It is a good definition, but it is far too broad and open-ended for someone who could describe myself as "honestly happy in my situation in life, yet still discontent in many areas." For several nights, I lay in the dark pondering what contentment really is. Satisfaction had to be a part of it, as far as being happy to the point of wanting nothing more. A meek and quiet spirit came to mind also. If I were truly content, I would remain constant, unruffled, in spite of what the day might bring. I would accept myself and my husband and my children for who we were, and though I would not fail to continue to train my children or strive to better myself, I could not help but love exactly who we are now. I would not try to pick bits and pieces from the lives of others and try to patch them onto who God made us to be. To be concise, (and that goes against my analytical nature, as you can see), the desire of my heart is to be as content in the midst of chaos as I am when the children are tucked safely into bed at the end of a productive day and my husband and I are chatting together over a hot drink.
I have been wanting to put together a photo collage to frame with my word and verse for the year. The picture above is the type that came to mind as I pondered contentment, but I am not seeking natural contentment; I am seeking godly contentment, a peace that passes understanding and can only be obtained from God Himself.
If you've stuck with me this far, and I hope you have, because I am excited to see how many of your "words" coincide with mine - rest, patience, gentleness, optimism, wants - you might take the time to not only read, but try to grasp my final definition for contentment:
Contentment is rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining envy, anxiety, anger, or complaining.
There are only three verses in God's Word that contain the word "content." One is my heart's prayer, that by the end of this year, I can truly say along with Paul that "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Hebrews 13:5 is my theme verse: "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." Hence the theme of my journey ahead: Christ is All I Need - Learning to be Content in Him.
Do you have a working definition for your word yet? Have you gotten out your concordance and looked up any verses? Or searched online for any supporting quotes? This week, take some time to ponder...
Love,
6 comments...Thank you! I love to hear from you!:
What a wonderful post and beautiful picture of Caleb. Those two verses are perfect and I love your definition. I will do what you suggested...but I think the two verses you quoted are right on. I always quote..."whatever state I am therewith to be content." I used that many times while we were in Florida, NC, poor, sick, missing home. Sometimes I took "state" literally. I think about "want" everyday and I've told some co-workers at work.
I have not really put together a definition but I just sit there and nod as I read yours! I'm so in the same boat.........
I do not want to live for just the evenings when all the kids are in bed and the house (and computer!) is all mine. I want CONTENTMENT and joy all the time. And yes it can only be found in Christ! I think a big key to that is hiding Gods word in my heart...such as the verses you quoted and letting it do a deep work in me as I meditate on it when it is quiet in the house and then letting it bring fruit when I'd be tempted to be otherwise in the midst of all the clutter, dishes and NOISE!! Thanks for this post.
beautiful post Amy. I love your definition and the verses. I don't know hardly anything of the Bible yet unfortunatly. I don't know if 'go' is even in there. I will however see if I can find a Bible and start exploring. Thanks for sharing the words and the beautiful pic of Caleb. Didn't you have another child choose those same fingers? :)
Thanks for the link and the comment Amy. I was wrong, there are a lot of 'go' verses in the Bible. 52 pages worth lol. It's going to take some time to go through it. Thank you again, you are so sweet.
Hi Amy,
Caleb does look content there and so sweet. My word is neighborly. I should have used the word hospitality but was having a brain fog on that day. I know what I meant. =) What we are doing here is to choose a theme for each month and do things for each other and neighbors within that theme. For January the theme is snow and the word is peace. The definition is tranquility or quiet. The verses to go with our definition are to be printed on little cards with one read over breakfast to take with us for the day.Some are Prov. 16:7; Is 26:3; 32:17;54:13; & Phil 4:7. Our goal is to speak in softer voices to each other & not yell through the house. Something we said BC (before children) that we would not do. =) Thanks for posting it's more fun to do things "with " another person.
I'm still working on a definition for my word. Bless. I have realized that in order to BLESS I need to sacrifice and not be selfish. It's easy to do that sometimes...but it's most important to do it when I don't feel like it! Thanks for giving me something to think about. :)
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