I live in a small town. We have two grocery stores. I frequent one of them out of loyalty to the chain since my son works for that chain and the staff there is very friendly. There is one particular gentleman who probably is younger than I am but has worked many years at that store. I don’t care what kind of day it is. It can be a freeze, rain, thunderstorms doesn’t matter. If you ask him how he is, he is going to respond with “another day in paradise” with a huge smile on his face, one that reaches his eyes so you know he is sincere.
I sometimes think of his response and his positive attitude. To my knowledge he does not have a personal relationship with Christ. Yet he shows one attribute that all of us who claim to have a relationship with our savior seem to lack. He seems genuinely happy with his circumstances in life or should I write content. This is a concept that Paul talks quite frequently of in the New Testament. It comes to my mind because it is so important that we have this same characteristic to help us through whatever we are walking or just help us through life. I did not ask for cancer. It came my way anyway. I did not desire cancer for my son and I certainly would have loved to have had him until the end of my days. It did not go my way. Should I be bitter? Should I be discontented the rest of my days? If yes, what does that gain for me? Even if God’s opinion of me did not matter to me I cannot see myself happy because I gave in to bitterness and anger for the rest of my days. As I have written many times, this life requires that we be courageous. It is not for the weak. We intentionally make the decision to seek joy in the smallest of things and to be content.