My five pound Yorkshire terrier, Sienna made me laugh the other day when
I glanced up and saw her struggling and staggering around the yard
carrying a bone. The bone was meant for the large outside dogs who weigh
seventy to eighty pound and it's mammoth size was too large for her to
even get her little mouth around it properly to have the enjoyment of a
good gnaw.
As I watched and contemplated this scene it made me
consider the importance of thankfulness: being thankful for what we have
instead of always wanting something bigger or better or different than
what God has supplied.
Sienna had literally, by snatching up this
large bone, bitten off more than she could chew or enjoy. In fact this
bone was nothing more than a big burden for her something which she
eventually realized and thus laid aside.
Likewise when we are
always wanting more than what we have, we too are biting off more than
we can chew, some might even call it a bone of contention. For a
discontented spirit leads us away from God not closer to Him. Why?
Because regular discontentment with our lot eventually takes us along
the paths of envy, self pity, depression, discouragement, anger, hatred
and yes, for some people, even thievery or murder to get more of the
things we think we should have or want.
Whereas a thankful spirit
draws us closer to our Lord for it produces joy, hope, encouragement,
generosity and inner peace, the very spirit of the Living Christ within
us, which is indeed the best gift of all. For has he not promised that
he will never leave us or forsake us? And with Christ within us we do
indeed have everything we need to fill our lives with contentment and
joy whether we have much or little in regards to the things this world
offers.
So today let us choose to consider carefully:
Discontentment or thankfulness? Ones' a burden, the other a gift.
Prayer: Father God thank you for your wonderful gift of Jesus who is
able to fill us up with all that is necessary for us to live joyful
lives filled with inner peace and contentment amidst every and all
situations. In Christ's name we pray. Amen
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, B.C.
