The Journey back to Contentment

“Contentment doesn’t happen automatically. It takes an act of the will to decide to respond to life in a godly manner.” ~ Vonette Bright

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” ~ Proverbs 15:13

I have been living with a crushed spirit for the past several months … lots of situations and words – big and small – have weighed on my heart and mind, gradually overcoming me.

I’ve let it happen of course. Allowed those hurts and sorrows to take root … lost sight of graces and goodness and abundance. And I’ve been praying for the strength and wisdom to regain perspective and contentedness. And the Lord has reminded me that I let go of an important discipline … counting. {More on how this reminder has come in the days ahead but thanks to an obedient, honest friend for being His tool.}

For years I spent the early moments of every Sunday morning listing the blessings of the week just past … knowing that worship comes best from a grateful heart.

I’ve set goals for myself … counting blessings equal to the year, 2005 in 2005.

Then there was a listing on my blog, the Fab Five, where I continued to count … sharing my gratitude.

And this year, I stopped. Reasons that, at the time, seemed good, but now sound hollow and selfish.

So this morning, my listing begins again … in my journal, in my prayers … Gratitude for coffee and cozy sweatshirts, golden sunrises through oaks and pines, gentle snores of those I love, giggling girls sneaking into the door in the early morning darkness … grace upon grace, gift after gift.

And with it, the sweet assurance that contentment comes with gratitude.

Celebrating good and perfect gifts (James 1:17) this day:

{1 – 20}

• Sound sleepers curled up under the warm covers on a crisp morning.
• Brewing coffee
• Humming dryer filled with evidence of God’s abundance
• Crackling fire that reminds me of the hearth of my Pepa’s house
• Colors of gold and pinks and reds breaking through the trees as a new day begins
• Opening door with two little girls peeking in – and the gift of being available to help others, even at 6 am
• Proverbs, the daily refocusing
• Two cars, so that a  flat tire on a Sunday morning can wait until later
• The deep, long hugs of friends who know and love – no words needed
• Jewelry that opens the door to share
• Music that reminds me
• Well-lived life of a godly woman
• Sunday night conversations with my husband
• Jokes that are only funny because my daughter is telling them
• Favorite sweatshirts
• Crisp, cool mornings
• Challenging sermons
• The girl’s messy room
• “Hey babe,” said as he walks in the house after a long day at work
• Sweet two-year old nephews

Each Monday, I’ll continue to share a Lopsided Living idea in the morning … but in the afternoons, a gentle reminder toward gratitude.