Contentment

If my mother were still alive, she’d be happy to tell you that as a child, she couldn’t talk me into playing outside. Even when I did venture out of doors, I played in one of the outbuildings on our farm. I had “houses” set up inside a few of them. Kitchens. Living rooms. Bedrooms. All made of things that I scavenged from home. (Don’t tell Mom!)

I was perfectly content to stay inside my home reading a book or glued to the TV.

Knowing this about me, it might seem odd that now my content, happy places are mostly outdoors. I love camping, visiting parks, lakes and the Bay. I’ve wondered about this shift in my contentedness. What I’ve decided is that as an adult with a home of my own, it’s difficult to be content and relaxed when there is always clutter, dirty dishes and laundry staring me down.

Don’t get me wrong! Occasionally, I do have a jammy day and veg on the couch; but even then, on my way to make another cup of tea, I still have to walk past the kitchen sink that just needs a quick clean up. Or I reach for something in a cupboard that just needs a little straightening up. There’s always something that needs dealt with or at least put on my ever-growing to do list.

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalms 127:2

When I’m camping, I can’t do any of those things on my to do list. At the place we stay the most, I don’t even have cell service to be distracted by social media filled with photos of my friends’ perfect families, lives and homes. I don’t watch videos about what I MUST declutter or sanitize in my home. When I’m camping, I am content and truly at rest.

Here are some things that I’ve discovered about being content…

I am more peaceful and less stressed.

I sleep better.

I focus more on gratitude.

I return to “life” refreshed.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalms 4:8

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

Being content is the absence of:

• Busyness and perfectionism
• Wanting more (money, stuff or anything to fill that empty space inside you)
• Comparison

Just seeing that short list makes me feel tired. Comparison can be particularly exhausting. These days, it seems that EVERYTHING has to be pretty. You can’t even have a junk drawer that isn’t perfectly organized or a box of cereal that isn’t decanted. And I swear if I hear “aesthetic” used improperly one more time… Sorry, rant over. Ahem. All that to say, we have to be intentional to stop comparison.

• She’s prettier/dresses better/has it all together.
• That house is nicer/cleaner/more organized than mine.
• They are happier/richer/smarter than me/my husband/my family.

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Do I think that you need to go on vacation in order to be content?

No. But making space in your life for rest and refocus sure helps. Maybe your “space” can be found by taking a walk. Or finding a quiet “do not disturb” area in your home. Or having a jammy day, if you do it right. Ha! Ha!

One sure fire way of being more content is to be thankful for what you have instead of focusing on what you wish that you had.

Try keeping a gratitude journal or daily making a mental list of things you are thankful for. Praise God often for who He is and thank Him for all that He has done for you.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalms 107:1

Mandy Hood

Mandy Hood is co-founder and executive director of The Connection. She authored the book, “Let’s Get Together: The story of a unique women’s ministry.” She hopes the book will be a stepping stone to building a supportive network of community-based ministries.