But godliness with contentment is great gain – 1 Timothy 6:6
Will it require a different roof over my head,
And that with only the finest foods I am fed,
For me to see?
Must I always be dressed in the best attire,
To make others take notice and admire,
For me to believe
That I live abundantly,
That God has favored me?
Or will a change of my heart and mind
Cause me to take the time to find—
So I will see—
That when I appreciatively look around,
Abundance and favor will be found?
Then I will believe
That within the simplest things
Are some of my greatest blessings.
It’s not the magnitude that determines a blessing; it’s your attitude. An appreciative mindset changes how you see everything around you. This thought, tied to the opening poem, explores how the illusion of getting more or better is key to abundance and favor. Such thinking overlooks an important truth: what’s currently possessed was likely at one time desired, which means the new thing that’s desired, once obtained, will in time be less appealing.
While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to advance in life, I’ve discovered that the path towards acquiring newer things is paved with the simplest things, which, when appreciated, make the journey a slow, pleasant stroll.