Contentment, a state of happiness and satisfaction.
An amazing feeling most of us wish we had. Have you noticed that no matter what we are or have we are hardly ever content with it? we are always searching for and thinking there is something better out there for us.
Most times we find it hard to appreciate what God has done in our lives. We fail to have a heart of gratitude. we still crave what somebody else has.
This brings me to my discussion today.
An English proverb says “The grass is not always greener on the other side”, we often see what we think is much better than what we have and wish we had it,
Here are a few examples of circumstances that we wish for, without knowing what’s actually going on in them –
WHAT’s SEEN- Miss A, sees her friend and hubby pull up in a car, the hubby jumps out in the rain to open the door for his wife.
MISS A’s wish- I wish my hubby could jump down like that and open the car door for me, even when it’s raining, they must truly be in love
TRUE PICTURE- The hubby had to get out in the heavy rain, get soaking wet, to open the door for his wife because the car was falling apart, the door handle was broken on the inside and they could not afford to fix it.
WHATS SEEN-MR B’s friend whom they both graduated 6 years ago, living big, a house in the choice area, cars, big building for business
Mr B’s wish-Lord please why can’t you do my own for me, am here struggling working 9 to 5, no car, no house
TRUE PICTURE-Mr B’s friend took a big loan from the bank, he’s been spending the bank’s money, a few months down the line the loan is called in and everything is repossessed. Mr B now rises to the position of manager and his friend, well let’s just say he’s actively searching for work.
WHATS SEEN-Ms C in her late 30’s runs into an old friend who is married with 3 children. she brags about how much money she has, a wonderful husband, so handsome and caring and concludes with the statement” Am the luckiest woman in the world”
Ms C’s wish- wow! am so unlucky, I even look better than her, her husband is so nice, why couldn’t I get a man like him, Lord please let me be so lucky. I want a man exactly like my friend’s husband
TRUE PICTURE- Ms c’s friend married a lazy good for nothing man, the house, school fees, his clothes and car are all paid for and maintained by her friend. he threatens to leave every day, the friend doesn’t want to be a single mother so holds on to the bum. never assume ask God for yours, not someones else’s
WHATS SEEN-Miss D, calls her friend to catch up, her friend informs her, hubby just bought her a ticket to travel around the world, first class.
MISS D’s wish- I wish I was like her, why can’t I be in her situation. My husband won’t even buy me a local ticket.
TRUE PICTURE- Hubby bought her a round the world ticket to honour her last wish, she had terminal cancer, with 3 more months to live on earth.
WHATS SEEN- Mr E, gets off the bus, walking down the road to his office, he looks back and see’s one of his old school friends whom they graduated together and hasn’t seen in a while, cruise by in the latest Mercedes Benz jeep.
MR E’s wish- whoa, look at him go, nice car, he must be very rich, I wish I was in his shoes.
TRUE PICTURE- the old friend is driving the Benz because he is on his way to pick up his boss, he is a driver.
WHATS SEEN-Mr and Mrs D, visit their close friends and sit through their friends bragging about how their 3 children are in private school, getting good grades, going to become doctors etc.
THEIR WISH – Mr and Mrs D, argue all the way home accusing each other of not doing this and that for their children like their friends, they get home, line up their 5 children, scold them for not coming 1st in class not behaving well like their friends, complain about everything, they go back to arguing why God didn’t give them children like their friends.
TRUE PICTURE- in the future their friend ’s, the first child grows up to be a selfish, entitled spoilt brat, who believes his father’s money settles all, the 2nd child drops out of school and moves abroad only the 3rd finishes school. On the other hand, Mr and Mrs D’s children all grow up well trained, educated, with good jobs and successful careers, children any parent will be proud of.
WHATS SEEN- Mrs E, visits friend’s house, her friend’s hubby is all smiles, gets drinks, goes to the kitchen to prepare the meal, hugs his wife every minute and plants kisses on her forehead.
Mrs E’s wish- O my gosh, I wish I was married to this guy, he’s so caring, my hubby never cooks for me.
TRUE PICTURE- her friend’s hubby had beaten his wife so badly the night before over her going through his phone and seeing and complaining about a love text on it, they had just returned from the hospital where she had been treated for a sprained neck and back, she won’t be able to walk properly for a while, the hubby was running around like a headless chicken, putting on a show to hide the truth. On the other hand, Mrs E’s hubby, provides for his wife, never talks down to her, treats her great but can’t cook, “hmmm”.
Things are not always what they seem, never judge a book by its cover, stop Comparing your life or situation to everybody else ’s, someone starts a job before you doesn’t mean they will be more successful. someone gets married before you or marries a rich man and you don’t, doesn’t mean you will die poor. being born into a poor family doesn’t mean nothing good will come to you. Remember God rains on All. God created you for a purpose, you are you, unique, unlike any other, appreciate what God has given you and make the best of it. If you do n’t, you might spend your life envying someone else’s while yours slips right by. If you are not grateful for little you will never be grateful for much. .God Almighty will continue to bless you real good.Good morning …..
Thanks for this.. Really inspiring. I always tell people things are not always what they seem.
Thank you Martin, have a blessed week.
Well done
Awesome piece.
Thanks.
Awesome Piece. Thanks