SEASON 6, EPISODE 15, “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF ‘56?”

23

A MIND-SET

“I’m a farmer and I love it, and I’m a father and I love it. And best of all, I’m married to Caroline Ingalls and I love her.”

—CHARLES INGALLS

Contentment is being thankful for our lives and what we have. It’s easier said than done; contentment doesn’t come naturally. When Charles and Caroline attend a class reunion, they see their old friends are successful but discontent. Reflecting on his simple life, Charles is struck by how satisfied he is. Contentment does not depend on circumstances, but on our mind-set.

Charles Ingalls reminds me of my stepdad. He was a simple man who worked hard and loved his four girls as well as his wife. A mailman for more than thirty years, my dad sorted letters like seeds, drove his mail truck as if it were a plow, and delivered packages as big as sacks of grain. While rain didn’t wipe out his annual salary, it made quite the soggy mess. Being content with a blue-collar job took more than just a good attitude. I think my stepdad’s faith played a role. I saw him every dark morning at the kitchen table reading his Bible. He had a deep love for God.

The secret to contentment is to be grounded in Christ. When our hearts and minds are focused on Him, we can’t help but be grateful for the lives we’ve been given. Charles didn’t look at his life and see what was lacking. He saw everything as a beautiful gift from God. Gratitude recognizes how much we have compared to what we deserve. We deserve nothing but have been given everything we need to pursue a life of contentment.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

1 TIMOTHY 6:6–7 NIV

Think of someone you know who demonstrates contentment. What makes him or her content? When your focus is Christ, what changes?