Contentment

 

At this Christmas time, I am realizing more and more the truth of what the Lord spoke to me earlier in this year: Contentment is found in gratitude. 

 
Months ago, when I realized I would still be in the US for Christmas, I began dreading the thought. I did not want to be here at the time and I certainly did not want to celebrate Christmas here, especially after the magical Christmas I had last year in the UK. But as it has approached and now that it’s here, I am incredibly thankful and so much more content than I ever thought I would be at this time. There is nowhere else I would rather be right now.

I realized somewhere along the way that I have a choice. I can be miserable thinking about what I wish I had and don’t, or I can thank the Lord for all that He has given me and be content. Well, I don’t want to be miserable. I am tired of thinking about all that I have lost. I want to appreciate what I have. So I choose to give thanks. A grateful heart prepares the way, that’s how it goes, isn’t it? Enter His gates with thanksgiving. Well, I have so much to be thankful for. As I think of all He has done for me, all He has given me, I realize that the blessings of the Lord really are overwhelming, and the Psalmist was right as he wrote that He daily loads us with benefits.

I will admit that sometimes I need help seeing those benefits and thanking Him for them, but in these days, I see. At this Christmas time, I have discovered that gratitude leads to contentment. As we thank Him for the gifts He has richly bestowed upon us, we are given another gift. As we respond in thanksgiving to Him, He pours out more, and contentment comes.