Contentment

Camping was very enjoyable to me as a child.

When I was nine years old, my parents bought a tent, sleeping bags, cots and air mattresses, a portable stove, a lantern, camping stools, and other equipment to make camping more enjoyable. Usually, we made local trips, but one summer our family of five traveled from the northern plains to the West Coast of the United States of America! Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming was one of the locations my parents chose to spend a night. After entering the park and registering, we were warned about bears being seen at this very campground! How exciting! When the tent was up and everything in place for our night’s stay, my mother began preparing supper. My father, my two older brothers, and I set out to find our bear. We searched in vain.

Disappointed by our failed mission, we returned to the very place we had left earlier, only to be surprised by a group of people standing near our campsite, pointing and laughing. Next, we recognized my mother in the group.

Then our eyes traveled to our picnic table where a bear was removing the plastic lid from a metal container. He helped himself to the contents and then ambled off when he was finished. Soon the crowd left us alone to eat our delayed supper. So we saw our bear but not where we thought we would locate him.

While we looked elsewhere, the bear came to our own campsite, proving that sometimes what we search for in other places is best found at our own spots. Happiness comes from being content where we are. Have you heard people complaining about not having enough of this or grumbling that someone else’s life is easy when their road is so rough and difficult? We may have a spring of living water right under our feet. And the added treasure of being in God’s will brings contentment.

While chasing the proverbial rainbow, the rainbow might be in our own backyard. Even though life may be hard —sometimes downright difficult— just knowing that God is with us and that He cares brings thoughts of satisfaction and contentment.

God truly is enough.

Valerie Hamel Morikone