There are things or situations that we can’t change but we can certainly
change our attitude towards them. In any and every situation in which
God gives us things to do, He also gives us the help we need to do them.
The secret of contentment is to accept God’s will;
thank Him for what we have; and trust Him for what we need. Here's an
article inspired by writings of an unknown author.
As the story
goes, once upon
a time there was a happy little train. He had such a good time as he
raced down the tracks. He blew his whistle at all his friends along the
way. His friend the horse galloped alongside to the end of the pasture.
His friend the duck soared over his steaming smokestack.
But one day the happy train stopped being happy. He began to envy his
friends. The horse could go anywhere he wanted in his pasture and the
duck could fly through the sky. "But all I ever get to do is stay on the
tracks!" grumbled the not-so-happy little train.
"How can I get off my tracks?" wondered the little train.
"Maybe if I go really fast at the curve. Then I'll be off the tracks and
as free as my friend the horse!"
So the next day the little train began to pick up speed miles before the
curve. His friends were astonished at how fast the little train steamed
by. They watched with amazement as the little train reached the curve at
full speed and jumped free of the tracks. "I'm free" thought the little
train as he plowed into the field next to the tracks.
But
before he could blow his whistle he was stuck. He churned (moved
vigorously) his wheels. He
tried to go backwards. But he didn't move an inch.
"I'm not free!" he cried. "I'm stuck!"
His friend the horse came over to the little train. "You silly train,
what were you thinking?" asked the horse.
"I wanted to be free like you," said the train. "But I discovered that
the only way to be free is to stay on the tracks!"
"Of course," said the horse.
"Absolutely," said the duck. "We're only free when we play by the
rules."
Most of
us are just like the little train. We get the idea that happiness comes
when we can do whatever we want. But just like the train, when we ignore
the rules we get stuck.
God loves us so much. He gives us a beautiful world and tells us how to
enjoy it. But most of the time we ignore God. We do what we want. The
Bible calls this 'sin' and it ruins everything - even our beautiful
world.
God cares about people who are stuck in sin. He gives people a way to
get unstuck and back on track. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for sin.
The way to get back on track is to trust Jesus and ask Him to forgive
our sins and live in our hearts. He would set us free.
By Tim Pedrosa
St. Paul puts it beautifully in Philippians 4:11–13: “I have
learned the secret of being contented in any and every
situation. I can do everything through Him who gives me
strength.” |