“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Gratitude

With the economy going the way it is, and the prices of necessities going up, my husband and I were feeling the pinch of our tightened belts. We already don’t spend frivolously, so we were looking for ways to cut back any way we could, even putting off car repairs and waiting to replace worn tennis shoes. I thought I was handling it pretty well, even disguising my comments about saving money into little jokes when one day my husband called my bluff. He bluntly stated, “I am doing all I can. So you need to either get a higher paying job or stop complaining!”

I was taken aback. Complaining? Those were jokes! But as I examined my heart I realized that I wasn’t being content. When I stopped to think about it, I realized two things: God had given me so much and I was acting like it wasn’t enough. True, we weren’t eating out. Yet every meal we ate at home was delicious and filling. We couldn’t fix the car. Yet God had kept it running and the discomfort of being a little warm was still better than no car. My tennis shoes needed replacing soon. Yet hadn’t God kept them from wearing out so I could use them an extra couple of months? And just because we didn’t have the funds to update the furniture didn’t negate the fact that we were able to pay all the bills for our warm, safe house.

Since I love my job too much to look for a new one, I decided to be content. It started by being thankful for the job I have. Then I turned the switch in my heart to look for the gift instead of the problem. Worn shoes switched to gratitude. Not only for the shoes I have, but feet to wear them, the strength to walk, the freedom to be outside… and it didn’t take long until I was praising the Lord for all the good things and trusting Him to provide my comparatively short list of needs. I know He will, because I can see all that He has already given me.

“Lord, help me to choose contentment. Thank You for always being with me. Thank You for all that You have provided. You are so good to give me all that You have already given, and I trust You to provide for my needs. Amen.”