Happy vs. Content

Tears streaming down my cheeks, heart racing, labored breathing - I ran down the long hallway in the middle of the night to my grandparent’s bedroom and called out to my Grandpa.  Fear raced through my body, hindering all logic and eliminating joy.  Grandpa appeared in front of me, concern etched on his face as he asked, “What’s wrong?”  While we spoke, a few semi-coherent words spilled out, “I just want to be happy,” I said. Placing his strong hand on my shoulder he replied with tremendous love, “Sweety, don’ t try to be happy; you need to learn to be content.”

At the age of 16, that didn’t make much sense.  It seemed like a compromise, like the saying goes, “Compromise; where both parties are unhappy.”  I didn’t want that, I wanted to be happy.  It took me several years before I started to realize what he meant - to be content is to be thankful for what God has placed in your life up to this moment.

Growing up, I never really had a lot in the form of material items or high quality anything.  I gravitated towards sales racks and thrift stores (still do).  Thrifty was the way of life out of necessity more than the thrill of it.  But, overall I would say I was perfectly content with the items I did have.  After I had that conversation with my Grandpa that one fateful night, I gained the mentality that you make the best of what you’ve got.  It might not be as fancy, as large, or as high tech as Joe Schmoe next door, but I learned not to care.  I had a roof over my head, food in my belly, clothes in my closet and I was being taught valuable skills by the people that I loved and respected. 

And then I moved away.

Food became scarce, clothes diminished, the roof over my head changed every six months and the people I loved ... they were 1,700 miles away.  I was alone and terribly homesick, but then I remembered what Grandpa told me; be content. 

Taking that advice, I changed my perspective and saw my lack of clothing as a new opportunity to change my style.  I looked at my lack of  food and saw it as an opportunity to be creative when cooking dishes with the food I did have.  And the people that I loved - well that never changed - but I did add to it. 

Now, because I learned to be thankfully content with the things that I had, God has blessed me exponentially.  I now have a very loving husband, more food then what I know what to do with sometimes, a beautiful home, a wonderful puppy, enough clothes that I’m able to share and donate a lot of them and a job that I’m terribly enamored with not only doing what I love, but truly feel what I was called to do.

I still may not have the fanciest things or the most up to date tech and Adam and I will not be heading over to Europe for a two month stay any time soon - but I’m okay with that.  I have all I need and more; I may not always be happy, but I can honestly say that I am always content and always VERY thankful for all that God has blessed me with.


“...speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV)