Happiness is a bowl full of ketchup!

The chatter stopped when the French fries and ketchup arrived. I sat across the table and watched my two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter eat her fries. She carefully loaded each fry with ketchup, put it in her mouth, and smiled while she chewed. Then she let out a little sigh, picked up another fry, and loaded it with more ketchup. Soon the ketchup was gone, but there were still more fries. “More ketchup, peeze?” More red stuff—“Tank-you!” The fries disappeared.

Hmm, maybe if I’d put ketchup on her cereal this morning she would have taken more than two bites.

The next morning, I couldn’t get the picture of my granddaughter enjoying her ketchup out of my mind. Ah, if only contentment were a bowl of ketchup away… I felt restless and worried. I lost contentment somewhere over the past few months. Where did I lose it? When did it happen?

I’m always forgetting things. I walk into another room to get something—only to forget what it was when I get there. Then I go back to where I started—hoping to remember. So I decided to try to remember what I was doing when I felt content before.

I thought about when we moved last year. Life was anything but calm, and yet, I remember being content. My husband had been out of work, and when he found a job—I was grateful. I didn’t like moving thirty-five minutes away from the kids, but when my husband agreed to move half-way between the kids and his job for me—I was grateful. When we found a place to rent we could afford—I was grateful. We downsized from a house to an apartment. I was apprehensive at first, but it felt good to get rid of stuff. It was freeing, and afterward—I felt grateful.

Then it hit me—I was grateful!

I thought of my granddaughter again. An expensive plate of lobster wouldn’t have impressed her unless it was served with a bowl of ketchup. And my life was surrounded by “bowls of ketchup” —of all sizes. Large and small things, easy to over-look things— blessings that cares and worries had hidden from me. I got distracted. I let my gratitude muscles get flabby!

Then I pictured my worries like little thieves—stealing my contentment. I realized that if I wanted my contentment back, I needed to exercise my gratitude muscles and flexing those muscles would send those cowardly worry thieves packing!

My mind went to the much-loved verses—prescriptions against worry—vitamins for strength. The kind we all need to take everyday to strengthen ourselves against the worry thieves—so we can see all the “bowls of ketchup” we have to be grateful for.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
–1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 4:6-7