Moonlit Contentment

This morning was a rarity.

I woke early (not a rarity), but I did not feel rushed. I was rested. The moon was full and bright through my window.

I could see.

I had no fleece, footie-pajama feet in my ribs. All the kids were still where I put them last night (a rarity).

My sheets were freshly washed - which will never grow old. I love clean sheets on the bed. Such a little pleasure.

Brent was not snoring (a rarity - kidding, kind of). He was a bit angelic laying right beside me, his face clear to me in the moonlight.

The house was quiet. Sound machines roaring gently. And a nip of fall above my covers.

As I lay on my pillow, contemplating "to get up or not to get up," I became over-whelmed by the presence of the Lord.

There He was. Waiting on me.

He had been all night.

Watching us in the moonlight.

Psalm 139:18 says when we wake we are still with Him.

We sleep, He stays.

And this morning I knew it.

Snuggled in my clean sheets, I was overwhelmed by His thoughts of me. His thoughts of my family. How vast are the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. Psalm 139:17

Amazing.

My life is far from perfect. My marriage is flawed and my little white house is nothing extravagant.

My boys wear mostly hand-me-downs and my van could give up on us any day.

I need to repaint, re-carpet, clean closets, vacuum more often and steam clean my couch.

Set up against the standard of success in American culture, we lead mediocre lives. Average. Moderate.

But this morning, the Lord confirmed that I am rich.

Not wealthy, but rich.

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out. 1 Timothy 6:6

The sum of my riches has not one thing to do with the year of my van, the newness of my furniture, the relevance of my decorating, the style of my clothes or the amount in our bank account.

The sum of my riches rests on my walk with Jesus. My inheritance is an abundance of peace and my wealth is found in the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ (Col. 2:2).

Godliness with contentment.

I am thankful this morning for little luxuries. Soundly sleeping boys, the crispness of fall, a hush of silence, moonlit windows, sleepy-eyes on my sweet Brent, the smell of Sam's Club coffee, freedom to read my Bible, and the reality that God dwells in me. He watches over my house. And waits on me as I sleep. Blessing us, not with extravagant materials, but with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3).

Today, let us savor and be aware. Whatever our season of life. Whatever our day will bring.

Enjoy.

Be glad.

Be rich.

Pursue godliness.

And be content.