Lessons From Vacation – Be Content

Given June 2010

A vacation is meant to allow you to get away from the daily routine and experience something different.  Hardly anyone takes a vacation in their own hometown.  A recent vacation to the beach brought us to a chain grocery store.  The young lady who checked out our items was very friendly and asked us where we were from.  Upon hearing that we were from the mountains she stated, “Oh, I love the mountains, I’d like to live there.  I’ve lived at the beach all my life.”

It surprised me to hear her say that because I’ve said the same thing every time I go to the beach, “Oh, this is great; I’d like to live here.”  But this young lady was longing to get away from what she was used to and experience what we wanted to get away from!  We think somewhere else is better than where we live; the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

But the apostle Paul said it this way, “..I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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,” Philippians 4:11,12.  The lesson for us is to be content where God has placed us but be in constant contact with Him so if He wants to move us, we’ll know it.  There are people in the world who long to be where we are.