Zondervan - Pursuing Contentment

If contentment could be weighed, Id say its about 90 pounds. Thats what Edna weighed soaking wet, and she was a bundle of contentment. Eighty years old, full of spunk, living alone and sharp as a tack, indomitable little Edna ruled the roost in her neighborhood. I was an impressionable young college student when I first met her but in all the years since, Ive never met a happier person.

Ive thought about Edna a million times. Every time our paths crossed she told me about something that gave her joy. Her latest batch of gorgeous flowers or the stray cat that showed up at her door. Chapters in the Bible she was memorizing. New curtains she bought when shed saved enough money. I loved this woman! I cant tell you how she lifted my spirits. Edna had kind of a secret formula that I finally figured outdont compete, dont complain, dont compare. I dont know what age she was when she learned this but by eighty she had it down pat.

Ednas daughter, Marian, and I sang together in the church choir and often she took me with her on Sundays to visit her mom. As wed walk across the yard, classical music could be heard mixed with the sound of Ednas humming. She had a large library and had read every book in itsome, twice. She could quote Scripture and poetry and whole essays. One time she had me check out her rendition of the Gettysburg Address. She didnt miss a word.

While cultivating her flowerbed, she was also planting seeds of tranquility, peace, and acceptance in her heart. She knew the Savior who had become her friend. She took Him at His word, believing He would be everything she needed. She didnt envy those around her for what they had. When a prosperous developer offered her a huge amount of money for her land, promising a brand new house in a better neighborhood she said, What do I want with a new house? My neighbors have new houses and theyre not happy.

Ednas heart had found contentment because of what she had inside of her. She lived in a little clapboard house in a small town, never traveled more than 500 miles from home, had no car, and little money. But everything she had, I wanted.

This sweet, little woman was the epitome of the Biblical view of contentment. She got excited over simple things. She enjoyed her surroundings and made them beautiful. Her heart wasnt restless. She knew the difference between a mere inconvenience and a major catastrophe and she lived every day like it was her last. She trusted God that life could be enjoyed through a dimension beyond what she could see or feel. She was grateful, playful, truthful, and watchful. Every now and then, I have this feeling I can see her sitting up there in heaven on a star. I just look up and say Hi, Edna. Thank you.

Luci Swindoll

How in the world can I be content in all circumstances?
I really dont believe I can, but Ill try. Ill throw my heart into it and ask
the Lord for his help. Hardships, losses, inconveniences, interruptions,
relinquishmentsI could name twenty things I have to work at to find
contentment. Maybe it wont happen in some areas. I dont know. I do know one
thing: If I dont want it, it will never come.

Luci Swindoll

Far too often, life falls short of perfection and happiness flits just out of reach. A nagging sense of dissatisfaction works its way into our hearts. This is not what I wanted out of life. It takes root and grows. It just isnt fair! People disappoint us. Our looks disappoint us. Our decisions disappoint us. Our possessions disappoint us. Our expectations disappoint us. Customer service disappoints us. Even the weather disappoints us! Finally, we cannot contain ourselves. We simply have to let others know what we thinkjust how bad things are. So what do we do? We tell anyone who will listen. We blurt out lifes shortfalls, bemoan lifes disappointments, and vent our disgruntled feelings over lifes unfairness. In short, we complain.

Life can be so hard. Life can be so frustrating. Life can be sosodaily! Women everywhere face disappointments, disarray, downfalls, delays, drawbacks, and doldrums. Its unavoidable. Thats life! The trick is to face lifes twists and turns with grace. We yearn to be the kind of women who exude contentmentthat quality of serene calmness, unflappable cheerfulness, and peaceful acceptance. We want to be content. But thats so hard to do!

Contentment doesnt come naturally, and isnt always learned quickly. But it can be learned. You can, like Paul, say, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content (Phil. 4:11). There are pitfalls along the way, bad habits have been formed, thoughtless attitudes have taken hold. Would you like to be able to find satisfaction in daily living that cannot be ruffled by circumstances? Would you like to break old habits and learn a new way of looking around you? Come, and allow God to cultivate a heart of contentment in you.