One Good Thing Every Day: The Summer of Our Couch Content
Recently, I heard an excellent sermon entitled "Just One More Thing." The speaker displayed a photograph of his guitar collection lined up on a his couch, which immediately caught the attention of the guitarists in my family. Even I was impressed. He said he has been asked which one is his favorite--his grandfather's banjo, the Les Paul, the Fender Stratocaster. He admitted, "It is the one I don't have yet."
The scripture of the morning came from Philippians 4:10-13, 19. As the speaker continued, I began to think about what it is in my life I seek to satisfy my soul. A stunning realization hit me.
While I enjoy certain possessions and desire a comfortable life, these are not what contend with my contentment. My contentment, more often than not, is contingent on the contentment of others.
Momentary despair sunk in. There is not enough time and money to make everyone in my life happy. There is certainly not enough of me! But, then I thought about the picture the speaker showed before the guitar collection. It was his family.
I realized the collection on my couch of contentment must include those people of highest importance--my husband, my three boys, and me. I almost left myself off the couch because after all someone has to take the picture, someone has to make happiness happen. But, that's part of the problem. I need to couch myself with them. If I don't, I'm apt to run off to help someone else with their couch content. Or worse, I allow someone else to ease their way onto my couch and push aside those who have the only right to be there all the time. I am one of those. The four sitting on the couch want me there, too.
Where is the Philippians 3:12-13 message in that? Sometimes it takes more strength to let go than it does to hang on. Sometimes it takes more strength to hold on than it does to let go. No matter how I view the photograph, if I recline myself on God's divan, I find myself blessed.
What or who rests on your couch of contentment?