Finding contentment in what we have...

My church in Florida one Sunday gave out little key ring tags, the kind like you get as a loyalty card for your favorite grocery store. But this one says, "Contentment," on one side and on the other side it has a quote from the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity.

I've never read the book, but think I just might. That one quote alone has been pretty powerful to me. I used to read it all the time until the key tag broke and couldn't be permanently affixed to my key ring anymore.

But I ran across it the other day and it is a reminder of how I want to live. Here it is:

"Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity."

I believe this with all my heart, but there are days I find myself wishing for more... of this or that, of everything. I forget that I truly am happy with what I have and there's very little I really need. That sometimes I want things just for the sake of wanting, not because it would add anything meaningful to my life. I don't need things just because I want them, and I don't need them just because they are there.

I hope this quote will help me remember, because I really am happier when I live that way.