Matthew 5:5-6
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no
less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything
that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
Scripture quotations from The Message. ©
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by
permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I had breakfast with some friends from high school a few weeks ago,
and one of them told of a time when he was really poor. He said he was
very hungry, and all he had in the cupboard was a packet of biscuit mix
and 2 packets of “Swiss Miss®” cocoa mix. My friend had no milk or
eggs, but he decided that he could mix the cocoa packets with water
(milk?) and add it to the biscuit mix – and make pancakes! He said, “I
didn’t even have any syrup…but I didn’t go hungry!”
You can tell by looking at me that I am all about a good meal – and
syrup on my pancakes! I like “creature comforts”…and nice things…and I
have more than my share of both. But like many people, I have things
that I wish I could change about myself…wrinkles and sags and extra
“padding” in the wrong places. I wish I could turn back the clock and
have strong “runner’s knees” again…and no arthritis in my fingers. I
look at old pictures and long for another family gathering and be youth
and energy to enjoy one another’s company.
Then I take our little ones swimming…or watch them play with abandon in
our yard or living room. I look at their happy faces as I make their
favorite sandwiches…and I realize that the children don’t care what I
look like. They accept that I can’t run as fast as they can – or climb
as high. But they know how much Greg and I love them…that they are
always safe and nurtured when they are with us…that we always have their
best interests at heart. And this bond cannot be bought.
I share a sunrise with Greg…sit and enjoy coffee and conversation on our
back porch…or laugh with him over one of our favorite sitcoms on
television while our cat, Mabel, stretches out between us in “purrfect”
contentment! And I am reminded just how abundantly full my life is…how
blessed we are to be able to have enjoyed rewarding careers that
afforded us the luxury working together - and an early retirement.
I am reminded every day, in ways great and small, of what truly
matters. For us, it is faith and family – in that order. Without faith
in God, we would not have the strength and wisdom to care for each other
and our family as we should. We would not fully appreciate how
precious life and the people in it are…and how important it is to serve
God by serving others. Without our deep and abiding relationship with
our Heavenly Father, we would probably be more focused on correcting
wrinkles, grey hair – or no hair(!), and “stuff”…and we would miss the
sunrises, laughter and wonder that is “life.”
Nobody is perfect…and I have my moments where I am less than satisfied
with where I am in life or what I have. But for the most part, I take
heart in what the Apostle Paul noted in Philippians 4:11-13…”I’ve
learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just
as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found
the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands
empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in
the One who makes me who I am.”
I want this to be MY “recipe” – and the “syrup on my pancakes” as well. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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