To be a Violet

On the suggestion of a very sweet person, I've been reading the devotional by L.B. Cowan, Streams in the Desert. First let me say, I recommend it! Enlightening, encouraging and challenging! Well I wanted to share an entry that is particularly relevant to contentment. Bear with me, it's good...and simple enough to share with a child to help understand the concept of being content as God made you.

"A story is told of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree. The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.
And so it went throughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet, the king found its face as bright and happy as ever and said, "Well, violet, I'm glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don't seem to be the least disheartened." The violet responded, "No, I'm not. I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I'm determined to be the best little violet I can be."

People who are God's without reservation "have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." His will becomes their will, and they desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do. They strip themselves of everything, and in their nakedness find everything restored a hundredfold."

Phillipians 4:11 "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

To be a Violet.....

Image of Contentment

Meet my babies, of the furry kind, Princess Ebony and Sir Smokey. I love these cats! I've had cats on and off most of my life, and these are the latest additions. While I love animals of all kinds, I'm particularly fond of cats. They just hold a special place with me. They are so smart, warm, loving, easy to care for and just down right cuddly! (Now, before all you dog lovers get sensitive, I have also had many different dogs in my life, including a gorgeous German Shepherd and lively Black Lab that currently own my backyard!)
Nonetheless, these cats are special! They have decided that their new favorite place to nap is my sewing table. Thankfully it is large enough to accommodate both of us! I love the unspoken feeling of HOME they add to my special room and the unconditional love they share with me while in here. They offer a natural calming effect that I welcome!

To Be Content

From Websters:

Content [kuh n-tent]

–adjective

1.	satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

I desire for this blog to be several things. A place to share my thoughts about life, family, sewing & crafting...the things that interest me most. But more, I hope it provides a reminder of God's will for me to be content in all things. Contentment. I imagine this to be one of those things I will continuously learn for the rest of my life, but one I am grateful for the opportunity granted by my loving and patient Creator! He truly is sufficient and abundantly provides far more than I could ever ask or imagine!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you"