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All Sufficient God, teach the men in my life contentment
By
Patsy Perkins Cadwell
November 13, 2007
The hummingbird feeder on our front deck attracts a number of the tiny birds. Getting to the feeder, however, requires diligent effort for all but one much smaller hummingbird. He stands guard from a branch overlooking the feeder and bullies any bird entering his territory. My husband, Terry, decided to even the odds by adding an additional feeder outside the bird's line of vision. The bully immediately changed positions so he could watch both feeders. Being the devious man he is (smile), Terry added another feeder just to confuse things. We could not stop laughing as we watched Mr. Bully try to defend all three feeders at the same time. Even though he could not consume the nectar in even one feeder, he wanted it all. He defines discontentment.
I returned home from my mother-in-law's funeral thinking about her life of contentment. Unlike the Bully she epitomized contentment. I loved and admired her. She did not teach by her great knowledge of scripture or with the eloquence of an orator. She did not purposely mentor younger women or memorize scripture. Instead, she consistently lived a contented life of faith.
Please don't misunderstand my description of her or think, "I wish I had a mother -in-law like that." I don't mean to imply that she did not drive me crazy at times. Hearing her tell my fifty-year old husband not to go outside with his hair wet made me roll my eyes. When we spent the night at her house and she asked what time I wanted her to wake me up, I felt a little like a child. When she could not change her plans because she always washed clothes on Tuesday, I found it maddening! (I'm glad I never told her these things.) But, the contentment that defined her life overshadowed all her idiosyncrasies (or are they my idiosyncrasies?)
I suspect that she purchased one of the first toasters on the market and never needed a new one even though hers toasted unevenly. While I wanted a double oven she contented herself with one 3/4th size oven. She purchased a new refrigerator and her first clothes dryer when Terry and I married 40 years ago and never needed to replace them. I could go on and on mentioning all the things I "need" but she never thought about. She left behind a Godly Heritage of contentment.
God values contentment. He wants us to both seek and obtain it.
Philippians 4:11, 12 ...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Hebrews 13:5 …Be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you nor forsake you."
I Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
I teach the Bible, memorize scripture, write, and speak verbally of my faith. My spiritual resume looks good but when I leave, will others say, "She loved her God, she lived her faith." I want to leave a Godly heritage. What does your spiritual resume and the resume of the men in your life look like? It may not fill a page but, godliness with contentment is great gain and leaves a Godly heritage of contentment.
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