The DOg and the Bone
I am sitting on my roof-top patio in the cool evening witnessing the bright glow and feeling the warmth of the sun as it literally sets before me. I feel a cool, gentle breeze. I hear the distant roar of an airplane above and the sounds of the birds flying home. I also hear dogs barking, and people talking to each other. I am above it all so the sounds float up to me. It is a wonderful experience to cease my work for the day and choose to sit quietly and unwind.
I recently took some time to once again write my vision of my future life. I described in detail where I was, who I was with, what we were doing and how I was feeling. When I read what I had written as my ideal future, I was shocked to realize that it could easily be my present life.
I’ll be honest with you that my next thought was “Lord forgive me for being so ungrateful and not fully appreciating what I have”. I made up my mind to really pay attention to all that I have, take care of it, enjoy it, and savor it. That is why I’m spending more time on my rooftop patio.
Now, don’t get me wrong. It is perfectly normal and okay to have aspirations and dreams for more, and bigger or better, but that ought not to be at the expense of not even noticing, much less appreciating what you already have. It is a beautiful place to be when we can be content, even while looking forward to more. I honestly am not always there, but it is a place I intend to spend more time at.
Paul explained it well when he said in 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.”
The truth is that no matter how much we have we will never think that we have ENOUGH. There will always be a reason for us to acquire more, achieve more, be more. If we don’t learn to be content like Paul, we will perpetually be unhappy and dissatisfied. We will be striving endlessly in a never-ending race to a finish line we can never reach. That is like trying to fill a bucket with a big hole. You can pour the entire ocean into that bucket and never fill it. Think of the work and the futility and frustration if you had that task. Well that’s exactly what we do to ourselves when we are not content.
That is why we overwork, don’t take breaks, don’t set time boundaries, don’t take our vacations, don’t sleep at nights. We are on the proverbial hamster wheel because we believe we cannot afford to slow down. We have to work, work, work. We have to earn, earn, earn. Jamaicans have a saying “If yuh waan gud yuh nose haffi run”. That’s a lot of runny noses. It means we have to make sacrifices if we want to accomplish anything good or to gain anything good. Unfortunately we women tend to sacrifice our very selves - health and wellbeing, because we never learn to be content with our “runny noses”.
I think Aesop’s fable of the dog and the bone illustrates in a powerful way what happens when we don’t learn to be content.
It goes like this - “A dog was crossing a bridge over a stream with a bone in his mouth, when he happened to see his own reflection in the water. He thought it was another dog with a bone twice as big; so he let go of his own, and jumped after the other dog to get the larger bone. But, of course, all that happened was that he got neither; for one was only a reflection, and the other was carried away by the current.”
I bet you think “what a fool-fool dog”. Interestingly all of us are much more like that dog than we think. I saw the following post on Instagram which is also very instructive: “When you take things for granted, the things you have been granted get taken.”
So what is contentment and how can we learn to be content?
Contentment is maintaining a spirit of peace and a quiet confidence in all circumstances. It is accepting God’s plan for one’s life. Contentment is the opposite of envy, covetousness, worry, ambition and striving. It is a rest of mind, satisfaction, freedom from worry and being at ease in one’s situation.
Ecclesiastes 6: 9 gives us an idea of how to be content - “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Here are 6 ways to be content:
Realize the true riches that you have and cultivate thankfulness. “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.” Proverbs 16: 8 “Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6
Recognize that all we have comes from God and we deserve none of it “…people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Ecclesiastes 3: 13
Refuse to compare yourself with others —believers or unbelievers. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12
Remember that God has provided everything that you need for your present happiness. “His divine power has given us all things for life and godliness.” 2 Peter 1:3
Re-establish a proper value system. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3: 1 -4
Distinguish between needs and non-essentials. A need is something that is considered essential for the maintenance of life, health and spiritual well-being. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 19
A desire on the other hand, is something that is longed for, craved or wished for to fulfill a certain passion, appetite or lust.
Contentment brings freedom to rejoice at another person’s blessing, to be sensitive to the needs of others. When you are content you enjoy life in the place where God has you and you trust that God is working His purposes in your life.
This weekend don’t be like the dog in Aesop’s fable. Learn to be content in whatever your circumstances.
Your weekend reset tip:
Start a gratitude journal (an ordinary notebook or a word/google document on your computer or phone is quite fine) and every day from now on, write at least three things you are grateful for.
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Sharon Carruthers, the author of the ‘Weekend Reset’ blog is a child of God, wife, mother of 3, a Human Resource Management and Development Consultant, and owner of the firm, ‘Bold Consulting’. She is sharing from her own experiences for women who are holding back, or living on autopilot; who believe their identities are in others and, or in what they do; or who neglect themselves while sacrificially taking care of others. She hopes that together Christian women can embrace the future with the beautiful hope of transformation one step at a time.