05/16/2024
TWO TENTS
Read Philippians 4:6-11.
“I wish my dad had time to spend with us like yours does,” Sonya said. “He’s always so busy!”
Bethany looked at Sonya’s beautiful home. “Well, your dad must make lots of money. At least you have nice things,” she said with a sigh.
Then Sonya’s mother asked the girls to go visiting with her for the church welcoming team.
At the first stop a young mother invited them in. “You’ll have to excuse this mess,” she sighed. “I have so much to do. And I don’t like this town. No one is friendly here.” For thirty minutes Mrs. Marshall kept talking about how terrible her life was.
When they left, Bethany whistled. “Wow! I wonder if she’s happy about anything.”
Then the girls followed Sonya’s mother up the steps of another house. A smiling lady answered the door. “We’re so happy here,” Mrs. Perry said with a smile. “We’re thankful we found a loving church family so quickly.”
On the way home Sonya’s mother said, “There are two tents in which we can live. One is contentment, and the other is discontentment. Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Perry live on the same street and attend the same church. Mrs. Marshall has chosen to live in discontentment, but Mrs. Perry lives in contentment.” Then Sonya’s mother said, “It’s not how much time or money you have that makes you happy. It’s which of those two tents you choose to live in.”
Sonya and Bethany grinned at each other. Sonya said, “It looks like we need to move. We’ve been camping in the wrong tent!”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you live in the tent of discontentment? Do you find yourself complaining about what you don’t have instead of counting your blessings? If so, now is the time to move into contentment, no matter what your situation is.
TO MEMORIZE:
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Philippians 4:11
