Earlier this month, I had the honor of speaking for 10 minutes at the Oregon Christian Writers fall conference on contentment, based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he states that he has found the secret of being content in any and every circumstance. My preparation for that event caused me to experience a tidal wave of discontent. Here’s what I learned.

Discontent

Discontent lies in my, “if only”, thoughts. As a young woman, I thought, If only I…

  • Had a boyfriend
  • Had a different family
  • Had a more outgoing personality
  • Had a clear idea of what I wanted to do

Once I met my husband and got married, I thought…

  • If only we had more money
  • If only we had a house of our own
  • If only we had a baby

Then we had children and I thought…

  • If only they weren’t so demanding
  • If only we had a backyard
  • If only we had a microwave
  • If only we had a color TV
  • If only we had a VCR

Now that my children are grown and I’m a grandmother, I have a new bunch of if only’s…

  • If only I could keep my weight down
  • If only I could get my books published
  • If only my grandchildren lived closer

Contentment

What I learned is that none of those things made me happy, satisfied or content. What makes me feel content, happy, and satisfied is being grateful for what God has provided…

  • A husband who loves me and cheers me on in all my activities and efforts
  • A circle of friends who love me
  • Wonderful grandchildren who are excited to see me
  • Friends and family that I love
  • Enough…enough to eat, enough to wear, a place to live, a place to worship God

Contentment is easy once we shift our focus to gratitude. We get to choose. Writers are taught to ask, “What if,” as a way to spark creative plot twists. What if we choose to be satisfied and grateful?

Your comments are welcome!