A Handful With Tranquility

 

"Better a handful with tranquility/quietness, than two handfuls with travail and chasing after the wind/ vexation of the spirit" Ecclesiastes 4:6

The above scripture is one of my favorite verses.  I've added different translations to one verse to amplify the meaning.

I've pondered these thoughts since I was a girl.

I wondered why people seemed to enjoy pushing through life at a pace that vexed the spirit. Even back then I understood the results of chasing after the wind. 

The hurried life of stress and panic never appealed to my heart. 

I have watched many I love live a life of busy and rush, only to come to a screeching halt at the end with empty hearts but hands too full to carry all they raced after.

Gathering too big a handful and trying to keep it all to self brings a true vexing of spirit.

Gathering to share and enjoy the Lord's bounty and benefits with grateful heart brings peace to heart and mind.

I personally think it's exhausting to grab too much and try to keep it all in one's hands.

At the end of the rush and hurry the herd rushes in to grab what you can't take with you.

I've watched too many leave this earth with sorrow and lack of peace in Christ to believe material goods satisfy a human heart.

It's a blessing to have enough.

Enough can be enjoyed without taking control of heart and mind.

Enough can be shared with those the Lord brings into our lives.

As we learn to live within our harvest, rest and enjoyment of life expands.

We have time to actually enjoy what God places in our hands. 

We have time to enjoy the Lord without hurrying through the gift of this day.

Our abundance doesn't always belong to us.

Sometimes it's placed in our care for the needs of another.

A lady once saw an older employee she knew at a local store. She noticed the woman had lost a lot of weight and seemed sorrowful. Knowing the woman from previous visits she thought to inquiry how this lady was doing. She said she had been ill and her husband had passed away leaving her with some difficult situations. 

The lady realized that some income in her purse wasn't needed by her family at the time. What a blessing it was for both women when the Lord allowed them to share in His bounty. What joy it was for them to be cared for by the Lord.

Life really requires very little to truly be happy.

Learning to live quietly within our harvest...even under our harvest..... actually brings greater contentment than living at the top or beyond the top of our harvest.

Learning to say 'No' to our flesh is a very freeing experience.

Once the flesh has been tamed, and relaxes its continual wanting, life truly becomes restful and calm.

Many today talk about living a more minimal life. I think that's good, but I notice the focus is on minimal possessions.

It also good to minimalize activity and words.

Letting God lead in conversation or daily activity can bring relief and rest to heart and mind.

Once the heart and tongue are at rest peace enters within.

Seeking the Lord's leading in relationships and in our going and doing is another aspect of not having our hands too full and chasing the wind.

More time with family along with a mind free from others expectations and intruding thoughts brings balance, rest and harmony into our homes.

Jesus said He came to give us abundant life. He also said His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

He doesn't ask us to grab with both hands and hold on for dear life.

He asks us to abide in Him and enjoy the abundant life He gave His life for.

If you're His child you have been called to live a quiet life, work with your hands and mind your own business.  1 Thessalonians 4:11

Life is not about grabbing with both hands full and chasing wind or anything else.

Folks who live this way never rest.

They never possess the beauty of a quiet spirit that enjoys their own blessings.

Sad.

How about you?

What are you really living for today?

There's always time to begin anew and enjoy this good day.....a gift of God.