I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. – Philippians 4:11 NIV
For my Dad it was his long walk to school on the coldest day of winter in two feet of snow, so a half-mile walk to church leading our family was no big deal. For me it was the times when breakfast, lunch, and dinner seemed to be in some form of potatoes that made eating peanut butter and maybe jelly sandwiches something for which to be thankful. For my older children it was “O’s” in the place of Apple Jacks, “Fruities” instead of Fruit Loops, “Dots” in place of Fruity Pebbles, and “Sweet Flakes” as opposed to Frosted Flakes that keeps them from complaining about their meals to this very day. For your children who are old enough to understand changes caused by this pandemic, they are learning how to be appreciative and truthful every time they will sit down to eat at an older age and say, “Thank you Lord for the food we are about to receive for the nourishment of our bodies.”
In the opening verse, Paul says that he learned to be content. Through our present day experiences, children and adults are learning not only to be content in these difficult times, but we are learning beyond the point of contentment. We are learning to look at our trials as trivial because God is truly on our side and He will not let trouble last always. We are learning to be thankful for every blessing, even if others see them as something minuscule or maybe not so great. We are learning that what would have made us unhappy at one time can make us so happy that to the faithless the unbeliever sees us as delirious, while in fact, we have just learned to depend up on the Divine. And, looking at learning beyond contentment, we are learning not to complain. The songwriter says it so well and it is easy for us to identify with his words: “I’ve had some good days. I’ve had some hills to climb. I’ve had some weary days and some sleepless nights. But when I look around and I think things over. All of my good days out-weigh my bad days. I won’t complain.”
Be thankful today my friend that our learning can be classified as “Learning Beyond The Point Of Contentment.” Be blessed throughout this day and don’t be like God’s people as described by the Psalmist below!!
And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord… Numbers 11:1a NKJV
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King