FEBRUARY 8, Hebrews 13:5

Meng Leng and Matt sat together with their mother and studied a new catalogue. Meng Leng pointed to a picture. “Mom,” she whined, “I want an outfit like this one. All my friends would just love it!”

“And I want one of these talking robots,” said Matt, turning several pages. “See? It’s voice-activated and everything! Couldn’t you get one for me? It’s not all that expensive!”

Just then, they heard a noise coming from the window. “Meowr-r-r!” whined Fluffy, their cat.

“Look at him!” Meng Leng laughed. “He’s watching those birds out in the front yard again.”

“That dumb cat,” said Matt. “By this time he ought to know that he can’t get them through the window.”

Mother looked at Fluffy. The cat’s tail was twitching in frustration as he stared intently at the birds he couldn’t reach. “Fluffy is silly, isn’t he,” she agreed. “Almost as silly as two children I know.”

“Us?” asked Matt. “What do you mean?”

“Fluffy is making himself miserable by longing for something he can’t have,” explained Mother. “You and Meng Leng have the same problem. You both know we’re not going to be buying anything new right now, yet you persist in thinking about the things you can’t have instead of enjoying all the things God has allowed you to have. I’d say you were at least as silly as Fluffy.”

The children were silent for a moment. Then Matt put the catalogue down. “Sorry, Mom,” he said. “Come on, Meng Leng. Let’s go play that new game we got for Christmas.”

Thought: Are there things you would like, but you know you can’t have them right now? Don’t allow your mind to dwell on those things. Instead, enjoy and be contented with what God gives you. Be a grateful child for the things you already have.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me know that You have been so kind to me already with all that I have been given. Help me also to be contented with what I have, and to be grateful to You, to my parents and to my care-givers. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.