Just one more
"We need another kid to have peace." Even as the words escaped my lips, I laughed at the double meaning.Rick and I admired the mantel stocking hooks in Pottery Barn. Our options were JOY, LOVE or PEACE. We agreed "peace" was the most festive word, but with only two kids, our little family doesn't qualify. While sauntering through the rest of the store, we debated the virtures of a dog versus a third child.
How often do we think just one more whatever will give us peace? A Christmas with one more gift. One more week vacation. One more child, one more bonus, one more friend. A new house with another bedroom or a bigger bathroom. A church with just one more ministry to serve me.
"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." -- Philippians 4:12-13 (NAS)
I admire Paul's proclamation here, but "the secret" has always bothered me. Why did he say it was a secret? Couldn't he just tell us how to be content? Well, he did.
The answer is found in Paul's other writings. There is much to the secret. We start by understanding the sufficiency of God's grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our contentment grows when we rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:16,18), maintain a right perspective of our mortality (1 Timothy 6:7) and fully trust God will never desert us (Hebrews 13:5).
When we do these things, when we understand who God is and how much He loves us, how much He has already given us in spite of what we deserve, the need for "just one more" dissipates. We don't need any more because we recognize how blessed are. The VeggieTales were right: a thankful heart is a happy heart*. And a right perspective breeds contentment.
*From the video Madame Blueberry: A Lesson in Thankfulness.
Labels: contentment, perspective, sanctification
4 Comments:
Such a good point. I remember well what an old Norwegian mother told her kids, "An ungrateful heart will lead to all forms of sin."
BUT, as far as knowing when to stop having kids...from my own experience, your heart, not your head, tells you when everyone who's supposed to be in your family is there. : )
Great stuff. Such a good tie-in to your own story. I know I've fallen victim to our culture's message of "one more and you'll be happy" so many times. I wonder how long before I finally quit trusting that message?
I'm going to feature this at the High Calling Blogs site. Congrats again!
http://HighCallingBlogs.com
Cami: Thanks for the advice! I'll let you know if ever my heart changes it's mind. :)
RLP: hey, thanks! I, too, wonder if I'll ever stop trusting that message. It runs deep.
I always thought vs. 13 was the secret:
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
And I would never dream of having another kid to be content! I love them to death, and two is chaos aplenty for me.
We did get some gerbils, recently.
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