Contentment

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

As a young boy, I owned a pet hermit crab named Crusty. His cage contained several spare shells that I painted (blue, red, purple) so that as he grew, he could move into larger homes at his leisure. I wanted Crusty to choose one particularly large shell, so I decorated it to make the armor more appealing to him. 

After applying glow-in-the-dark paint on the outside, I bedazzled the shell with jewels and glitter, even gluing a small race car to the top. What crab wouldn’t want to live in this masterpiece? 

Crusty lived for quite a while, growing and trading shells to fit. But he never chose the one I wanted him to have. Although beautiful, it was just too big for him. 

As an adult I wasn’t quite as wise as Crusty. Before learning better, I embraced the mindset that a bigger home was better. Each time I moved, I upgraded, but still hankered for other houses that were larger, prettier, or sporting better enhancements. 

Rather than being grateful, how easy it is for us to want just a little more than what we already have. I want to be like Crusty, satisfied to have only what is necessary. To pursue contentment in all things, that is my heart’s desire.