We Ought Not Feel Sorry for Ourselves

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

My favourite text today came from a friend who is staying at a hotel in the city for a couple of nights.
Hotels are not busy, as you can imagine, and my friend lives in a very small space. Some of you might have closets bigger than the space in which my friend lives. My friend also has a roommate in that small space.
It’s been quite a month.
So, when it the opportunity came up (all social distanced and responsibly done) to stay in a hotel suite for a couple of nights, she took it.
This is what occasioned my favourite text of the day. I actually cried a bit when I got the text; tears of joy and gratitude.

I should let you know as well that my friend does not have what many of us would consider stability when it comes to work. She has two or three jobs and they have all ended due to COVID. Her favourite job is seasonal, and it looks like that might be wiped out entirely this year. The other jobs from which she has been laid off don’t present a ton of certainty in regards to re-hiring.
We have all lost something in this time. It is easy to feel sorry for oneself; easy, but not helpful.  You should do what you can to resist the temptation.
I imagine that my friend has times when she feels sorry for herself.  However, she is also a pro at getting back up, determining to be positive and deciding to be grateful.

So, my favourite text.
It came on the morning after her first of two nights at the hotel.
It was pretty simple.
Actually, it had more emoticons than words.
It simply said, ‘The maid brought me extra coffee!”(followed by 8 heart emoticons)

I could stand to learn from my friend in things like this. Maybe you have felt something similar, overwhelming gratitude at a small pleasure in life.

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want.”

AMEN