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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. Matthew 5:5 (The Message)
These wise words were on my desk calendar for today. In a season that can often get wrapped up in things, this was a meaningful message for me to hear. These words can keep us grounded. I understand what it means to feel content with who I am, but it has taken time to get there. I can also get derailed and caught up in the messages around me. After reading this, the question came to me, how do you teach this to someone?
For me specifically, how can I teach this to my four year old son? If he can understand what it means to be content in life at a young age, imagine how that may affect his path going forward. At what point in your life, did you truly understand what it means. Was it a particular life experience? Was it something that someone said or did? Was it a series of situations that worked together to bring you to this revelation?
I think we learn more about being content, when we appreciate what we have and do not long for more. We value relationships and experiences over things. I think it also comes when you put the needs of others before yourself. I saw a glimpse of this when Chap and Will were having a conversation about what Will might say when he meets Santa? He was encouraging Will to think about what he might say and do when he saw him. The time would be limited. One thing Will said as he was brainstorming things to say was, "Dad, I think I'm going to ask Santa what he wants for Christmas?" Chap and I looked at each child with big tear-filled smiles.
I believe the message of this Advent season as we wait for the birth of Christ is about contentment with all the gifts we already have been given, putting the needs of others before ourselves, and then sharing the joy and hope that Christ's life offers with the whole world.
How can you do that today?
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