A Bed on Wheels

 Children have a way of finding joy in little, unexpected things. 

Once, I was walking with our youngest grandchildren, then four and six, and they noticed some pretty leaves on the ground. They both picked one up. Then my granddaughter, Evelyn, had the idea to collect leaves to give to her mother as a gift. Her brother joined in, and soon they both had a little brown bag of leaves for their Mom. They were so proud of their gifts and so happy with the little leaves. These little things that most adults would pass by without notice enthralled them. This affected me, and sometimes, when we are out on our walks, I will find things along the way - a pretty flower or an interesting stick- and I’ll think, “I want to keep that to show the grandchildren when they come.”  For children, contentment comes so easily.

Lila in her "bed with wheels"

This is how it was with Lila, the six-year-old daughter of a dear friend, who recently had her tonsils removed.  Prior to the surgery, she told her mother she was excited about being pushed in a “bed on wheels.”  While she was also excited about all the ice cream she could eat, I think she was more excited about the bed.

Would that we would be as contented as little children. But for us, it is a conscious choice of faith. The Scriptures are full of admonitions for us to "be content."

"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content," 1 Tim 6:8.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,' Hebrews 13:5."

If the Lord promises to never leave us - and He has - then we have the very best we can ever have; we have HIM. That is even better than being pushed around in a bed with wheels or eating ice cream to our heart's content. There is nothing more we need in our hearts or our lives.

Or, as I like to say,

Trust in the Lord always, for having Him, we have all.