My Dearest Sister,
I wanted to tell you about the recent trip I took to visit Ike and Lauren. The weekend had so many variants that it actually reminded me of the texture of a fine fabric. The different people and personalities, the arrival and departure of the different parties of people, the laughter had by everyone, the smiles and affectionate hugs that were spread around, the sheer excitement of seeing Isaac doing what he has dreamt of doing since he was a little boy, and watching the little kiddos toddle about soaking in the love by anyone who would take the time to interact with them, made it the memorable time that it was. This mom’s heart was so full, and quite content I might add! So much so, that when it was time to say goodbye the tears came and my heart began to sink into discontentment. I think you know what I am speaking of; that muddy rut that you and I get stuck in every once in a while. That rut that says, “It’s not enough! You must have more!”
I am happy, not to mention thankful, to tell you that on the long ride home from Alabama I became unstuck from that pitiful rut. I didn’t do it alone. No, it took something, indeed someone, far greater than me to get me out of that place. I had the help of the Wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit. He was so gracious to restrain my heart from the nose dive it was taking into that rut. His word was like a crane that lifted me up and out of that wicked rut of discontentment and redirected the path that my heart was taking me. The Lord led me “onto a path of righteousness for His name’s sake”. (Psalm 23:4)
God’s Word reminded me that, as Jeremiah Burroughs once put it, my “contentment is not by addition, but by subtraction”. It is when my “desires” decrease that I become satisfied or “content” in Christ alone. How strange, it is that when I take away all of my “I wants” which is a subtraction, that I gain!!! I think I have heard this before.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I Timothy 6:6
So, sweet sister, I gained so much from this visit with Ike and Lauren and I wanted to share that with you! I wanted you to know that God was merciful to me in exposing to me what ruts lie in my heart and that by His grace I was lifted up out of that rut and put a right onto the path of contentment in Christ my Savior.
Well, enough of looking back, now I must look ahead so that I might not fall into another one of those ruts! I will pray that this letter helps you to avoid the ones that lie in your heart as well. I will pray that your contentment will be in Christ alone. Which is the greatest gain of all!
Your Grateful Sister,
Susan