Proverbs 17:1 - Being Thankful For The Simple Things

This verse was part of my bible study yesterday morning and I thought about it several times during the day.  It is:

"Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife." (Proverbs 17:1, NIV)

It made me think about how often we don't stop to enjoy the simple things in life in our striving to always have and be the best.  Our society has stressed that we "don't settle for anything less" and as a result, we strive for more money and things that we think will make us happy. We often forget, though, that we don't need to settle for anything less than God's best for us.  That is where true happiness lies.  We don't have to have a seven course meal every night to be happy.  Our food doesn't have to be gourmet to fill our stomachs.  How many people lie down each night with an empty stomach? 

I thought about this verse again last night.  We were outside in our barn and my husband was putting in the wiring for the electricity.  My 5 year old son sat on the floor and had the best time playing with some scrap pieces of 2 x 4 that my husband had used to make some shelving.  My son made towers, airplanes, and who knows what else with those pieces of scrap wood.  He didn't need an expensive toy to make him happy.

When I lost my job in July, we didn't know how we were going to make it.  We have cut out several monthly expenses, but in truth, it has made us much more thankful for the things we do have and has made us understand even better that God will provide.

How will you enjoy God's best today and stop to enjoy the simple and peacful pleasures that are right in front of you?

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