discontentment and thankfulness have been on my mind lately. i am definitely a person who can get discontent so easily. i mean, i could go ahead and blame it on the media, on magazines, on internet advertising that tells me “more, more, more” but….i won’t. it seems as though once we start complaining about one thing, it all goes downhill from there. kind of like when you wake up for the day and one bad thing happens – you begin thinking about what a horrible day it is going to be. the same thing happens with discontentment- once you start saying “why me?” or “why don’t i have…” ingratitude just grows and grows.
there are definitely ways to be discontent with material possessions. and living in materialistic america doesn’t help that much. we can always be wanting more. but we can also become content with our daily lives…what we are or not doing…
at first, i became discontent about being a stay at home mom. really, i did. most days, i was incredibly thankful but other days i started thinking “if i only had a college degree and a career” or “i’d really like some extra money right now…” when instead i should have been thinking “i am so blessed that i am able to stay at home with leland” or “i am going to do the best to make money stretch and be creative in the way i do things now.” i may not have some fancy job out there, but i am daily raising a precious, tiny little person and for that, i am thankful.
today, i pray that thankfulness and gratitude become so prevalent in my life… we really have so much to be thankful for, and i never want to forget all of the blessings in my day to day life.
love,
arielle
Good post. I too struggle with being content. It is in taking time to count my blessings that I realize how truly blessed I am and for what I have to be thankful.
I really like this post. I have been reminding myself lately that I don’t need to buy anything. I am trying my best to save my money. It’s hard but definitely worth it. I hate that America is so materialistic. Thanks for posting this! ~Natalie
I truly appreciate this post. I needed to read something like this as I am currently getting lost in the day-to-day mundane-ness. It is so important to step back and appreciate all of the little things in life.
Thank you.
i know EXACTLY what you’re saying…especially about struggling with staying at home. but almost 5 yrs later i can say it really was the best choice, all my complaining and UN-thankfulness aside. <3
waking up and praying for that ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE is sooo important. God has called all men and women to certain positions and the truth is your young and GOD has you raising up a strong godly man right now. He desires that the role of the parent be just that, to teach your children to LOVE HIM. and to have a true PERSONAL relationship and understanding of who their creator is. I am blessed to see that you are thankful for that role and I encourage you to be that VIRTUOUS proverbs 31 wife and pray with and for your son and cherish the season of life that GOd has you in. He may call you out of it in a new way and that is the amazing part of serving a real and living God. He is so spontaneous and His ways are not our own. I’m always broke these days and that seems to be the season I am in financially but the Lord has shown me that HE PROVIDES in sooooo many ways. He truly knows what we need and when exactly we need it. He uses all good things for His purpose and I just pray for your beautiful family!! I pray he strengthens you and your husband at this time and that He pours out His Holy spirit upon you, your son, and your husband :). May the Lord bless you and may you see just how important your role in the body of Christ is!!! love you sister
♥cheche
i think you are so precious. and it’s obvious that you love the Lord with all your heart, so never doubt, you’re being used right where you are!
this comment makes a lot of sense to me. i find it very easy to moan about a lot of thingsin my life but i’m really trying hard not to anymore. it only brings down the people i’m complaining to, and doesn’t portray me as a very happy person. that’s not how i want people to see me..
It’s all about perspective… My husband and I are thinking about starting a family, and I want so badly to quit my job and be a stay-at-home-mom. Sometimes I have to stop myself and thank God that I have a job and that I am able to minister to those that I work with.
I’m so glad I stumbled across your blog! I have been truly shocked by the number of young Christian women I have found on the blogosphere… it is so encouraging!