Black dog/white dog...

"Godliness accompanied with contentment is great and abundant gain." 1 Timothy 6:6 Amplified Bible

My husband tells the story of an American Indian telling the preacher that his inward struggle is like having two fighting dogs inside of him, a black dog and a white dog. The preacher asks him. "Which dog wins?" "Whichever dog I feed and say sic'em too!" he replies.

I find the same battle inside myself at times...a battle between contentment, and discontent...between gratitude and murmuring and complaining. And whichever "mindset" I feed is the one that wins. I can feed discontent by dwelling on what someone else has that I don't have. I can feed contentment by counting my blessings- making my gratitude list. I can feed discontent by pouring over magazines full of beautiful women wearing expensive clothes and pictures of impossibly perfect houses. I can blind myself to the blessings around me, instead focusing on and longing after a bigger house, a fancier car, growing more discontent as I wander through the mall gazing at things I don't need and can't afford. I can feed contentment by thanking God for the things I do have and rejoicing in the blessings of His grace that surround me. I can feed contentment by being a good steward of those blessings and by using my blessings to bless others.
Daily I must choose which dog wins.


Thank you God for...
91. Ann's blog about her daddy on the same day I blogged about my daddy. I always find it so wonderful how God weaves threads of continuity as He speaks to His kids, though they be spread far and wide.
92. A good sleep after a tiring week.
93. Help from the Holy Spirit while counseling a hurting one.
94. The look of sheer happiness on oldest grandaughter's face as she got to go with Nana, Mama, and Auntie to a "Pampered Chef" party with the grown up ladies.
95. Oldest grandson, not "too cool" to interupt his play with his friends to run and give Nana a hello hug.
96. Cute little baby grandaughter legs in striped knit leggings.

97. Fat orange and black caterpillars in their wooly winter coats. (The same colored stripes as baby's leggings!)
98. A Saturday morning breakfast of pumpkin pancakes with my mama and big brother.

99. A beautiful Sunday morning sunrise out my window.
100. The beauty found right in my neighborhood.

Woods, right across the street from my house...within Portland city limits!

Birch trees lined the street I walked to school on when I was a little girl. They're one of my favorites ever since.

Up the street and around the corner, a lovely older home and red barn, again, right in Portland city limits!Awesome!

A tree ablaze with color.

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