A number of years ago, when I went on my first missions trip to Africa, I will never forget a dear old African woman who had helped prepare a meal to honor the team I was with. After the meal was finished, she came up to me, with a beaming huge smile on her leathery, aged face, saying one word:
"Contente".
Translated: " I am completely content.
I had been eating my meal, looking around at the dirt poor surroundings these Africans lived in. Dirt floors. Mud-made 'huts'. Shoes with holes in them. Old, tattered clothing. The average African at that time made about $3.00 a DAY.
A DAY.
Let that sink in.
Yet, here was this precious old saint who had fixed our meal, beaming with joy in the midst of it. It blew me away.
Lately, I have heard more than my fill of people who hate their house, hate their job, hate the city, hate the US, hate.....hate....hate....hate about everything about their life. Born-again believers at that. I was thinking about the "Contente' lady this morning in contrast. It occured to me:
Something is wrong. Really, really wrong.
Sitting in a Roman dungeon, awaiting possible execution, Paul would write, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living content in every situation."
In whatever city. In whatever nation. In whatever job. Whereever, whatever.
Just a thought to put in the gristmill for today... :)
Love you guys,
PB
I am contente :) Praise his name
Posted by: Jim Mather | November 13, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Thanks for the reminder, PB...I think we all need that from time to time. Just be content.
Posted by: Leah | November 12, 2008 at 05:14 PM