Tom Bodett writes, “They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” I think those words are a good definition of happiness but I think I’d change the word happiness to the word content. I think happiness comes in spurts, short lived moments of unexpected joy, whereas contentment is a peaceful state of mind from being happy and satisfied with what you have. Contentment comes from having peace with God’s plan for our lives.

I’ve been blissfully content today. I’ve got a pile of chewing gum on the table by my reading chair, my quote, bird and butterfly identification books stacked close by, Penelope snoring under a blanket in my lap, and a good view of the squirrel proof bird feeder outside the lady den windows. The purple finches, dressed in their bright raspberry raincoats, have been fighting all afternoon over the perches on the bird feeder. They finally just decided to quit fighting and line up four in a row across the top of the feeder pole, waiting for a perch to be available. Once the finches get a good quarrel going, they are really loud. Been watching and listening to them all afternoon.

The day is beautifully vanilla colored, the sky canvas full of cigar smoke overcast clouds. I walked Penelope this morning as Mother Nature was misting her earth with drizzling rain. Our afternoon walk was in the warm sunshine but shortly thereafter the wind blew the rain clouds back. It’s raining now. I can hear the raindrop symphony quietly tapping a drum beat on the magnolia leaves and I can see the bamboo bending over as if in prayer, heavily dressed in their coats of rain.

Mother Nature is picking up her watercolor brushes and palette now to paint a magnificent sunset but she’ll be painting behind her cover of clouds. She doesn’t care if we can’t view her painting, she will still create a magnificent sunset for God to witness. I looked outside as dusk crept up the street, pulling the darkness behind, and I saw just a peek of Mother Nature’s sunset painting, a layer of purple clouds, floating high on the horizon, kissed pink on their bellies in a wash of watercolor.

I’m sad to see the news of another plane crash. So heart wrenching for the families, the tragedies of losing loved ones so horrifically. We need to pray for peace for the families and friends of these plane crash victims. God never promised that life would be easy but he did promise to stay with us and help us carry our burdens. In Hebrews, Chapter 13, God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Life is unpredictable and complex and bad things do happen. Everyone handles challenges differently but how we handle these trials and tribulations matters most. God allows us to experience failure and pain. If we go to God in prayer during these difficult times we will grow stronger in our faith and become closer to God.

Psalm 23 reads,: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” This passage of scripture assures us of God’s protective nature. When we’re bombarded by situations too hard to understand we are never alone. God is steadfast, his arms always extended to hold us, to comfort us with his love.

Biblical scripture in Psalms says God “healeth the broken heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” We need to have strong faith in God, not letting our troubling times push us away from him. These difficult situations are when we need to lean on God the most. God’s healing grace can give us peace and heal a broken heart.

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” — Wayne Dyer