The Lucky Charms

One of my fondest memories belongs to a Christmas many years ago when my daughters were around 6 and 12 years of age.  I was a recently divorced single mom, and we didn’t have a lot.  I had to learn to be ok with where we were at and with what we had.  While my children never went without what they needed, often it was more difficult to obtain higher price ticket items for the Christmases and their birthdays.    

I was fortunate enough to have been taught myself at a young age that the thought into the gift meant more than the gift, so I was prepared for just such a time.  My girls LOVE sweet cereal; they come by it honestly.  While Cheerios was a fine breakfast food, it didn’t compare to the goodies like Trix or Fruity Pebbles!  And they were always going at each other over who got the last of the cereal out of the box.  Many a tear was shed (particularly from the younger, Peyton) over the fact that McKenna got to it first!

This particular Christmas as the girls each unwrapped identical boxes at the same time, they were over the moon excited that they received their own individual family size box of Lucky Charms!  And let me tell you, lest they forget who had which box, they wrote their names on them so there was no doubt!

Is our response to what our circumstances are one of contentment or dissatisfaction?  I know culture today tells out that we don’t have enough.  We’re always looking for the better job, better car, more Instagram followers, or better pay.  We are a society that is me-centered, always trying to get more.  But what does God tell us about that in the Bible? 

Philippians 4:11-13 says, “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

We should know how to live in both circumstances and should also know how to be content in both.  The Bible also reminds us that God supplies our needs.  The fact that He graciously supplies what we need should cause us to reflect on how content we are with where God has us!

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t go after a pay raise or a new job/title.  But we should examine our hearts and speak to the Holy Spirit to ensure that we are content with what we have and determine if we’re seeking something for ourselves or if it is God-led.

I pray that this week we all take a moment to recognize our contentment in our circumstances through Jesus and ask Him to fill our hearts with that peace.

~Erin