We went to a mall earlier today and there I noticed that once again, it’s sale season. I felt some kind of excitement in my heart, that kind that I’m sure most of the women can relate to whenever we see that red sign up on store windows.

Aaaahh!!!! Sale!!!

But that excitement lasted only for a few minutes. Reality suddenly set in for me: It doesn’t matter, Thammie. You have no more budget this month for those things. “Live like no one else, so later you get to live like no one else”, remember??

In the lines that would follow, I shall be pouring my heart out to you.

Earlier today I felt something I haven’t felt in a long, long time. All of a sudden I found myself thinking a whole bunch of “what if’s?”

“What if I chose to work?”

“What if I had chosen to focus on earning more money?”

“What if I had more money and could just buy anything I wanted?”

“What if I…..?”

Some of those what if’s didn’t even make any sense to me, but they came to mind any way.

And then I started imagining what it would be like  to be able to afford anything I wanted in life. To be able to give away huge amounts of money and not have to think twice. To be able to spend and not feel guilty. To be able to travel all I want, anytime I wanted to.

And then I asked myself, “Would those things really make the difference for you?”

I didn’t think so.

Those are all stuff. And they will always remain as such—just stuff. They are inanimate and therefore have no capability whatsoever to give us lasting satisfaction. Temporary gratification, maybe. But true, lasting contentment? No. Never.

Contentment is a heart issue, and therefore cannot be resolved by external things. It is only when our hearts our filled with and by a person that we get to experience real contentment. And by “a person” I mean the One who has withheld nothing from us– not even His life, that we may be able to receive all the riches and blessings that have been prepared for us. It is something that can only come once we realize that our Heavenly Father has assigned us our portion and our cup, that He  has made our lot secure (Psalm 16:5); That it is He who will fulfill His promise that no good thing shall He withhold from those whose walk is blameless (Psalm 84:11); That every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17).

My next thoughts were:

“Lord, thank you that it is you who gives me and my husband the ability to produce wealth.”

“Thank you that it is you who satisfies me.”

- Thank you that though I cannot buy all the shoes and bags I want, at least I even have shoes and bags.

- Thank you that everyday I get to wear decent clothes.

- Thank you that my family is healthy.

- Thank you that though I do not usually get to eat in all the good places I want to eat in, that I still get to enjoy food— more than three times a day!

- Thank you for a loving and hardworking husband.

- Thank you for two lovely girls who have great destinies.

- Thank you for wonderful loyal friends and spiritual family.

- Thank you for a loving family.

- Thank you for the privilege of leading a church who is set on loving you and obeying you.

- Thank you for surrounding us with awesome people who constantly remind us of your love.

- Thank you for your faithfulness.

- Thank you for your unconditional love.

- Thank you for your abounding grace.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

It’s amazing how our minds can so easily become consumed by the cares of this world, and what the world considers “of value”.

How important it is to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b) and to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18a).

I like how the apostle Paul put it:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13)

Again….Thank you, Lord.