Content.

Content.

A state of satisfaction.

In Laos we stayed at a centre for deaf people. The first thing everyone in the group noticed was how happy the deaf people are. Throughout our stay there we often talked about how it amazes us that they are so content with what they have, they can’t hear anything, they aren’t rich (money), yet they are happy considering the circumstances. There was also something about their friendliness and happiness that felt warm and special. It reminds me of where Paul says in Philippians: “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s when it also clicked: Jesus Christ is the reason their happiness and friendliness seem so warm and inviting and they are content, because they have everything they need in Jesus!

Of course that lead to me just thinking a bit about whether I am content. Whether I would be able to smile in their situation. Is Jesus really my everything or do I still cling to earthly comforts?

My second point on contentment has to do with our food. In Lao we were blessed with food, we paid a contribution to food and the hosts made us food everyday! Food that we would never have been able to afford with the contribution we made toward the food.

The food we can afford on the budget is not nearly as much or as nice! So that came back to the team being challenged to learn to be content with having a lot of food and good food in Laos, but to also be content with what we can get on our budget when we move to other countries.