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But godliness with contentment is great gain.— 1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV)

We live in a world that constantly reminds us of what we don't have. There is always something newer, something bigger, something more beautiful waiting to catch our attention. Before long, we can find ourselves measuring happiness by what we hope to acquire rather than appreciating what we already possess.

I have noticed that some of life's most satisfying moments have very little to do with possessions. A quiet morning with a cup of coffee, a familiar voice on the telephone, a walk along the shoreline, or an unexpected kindness can bring more lasting pleasure than anything wrapped in a shopping bag.

Perhaps that is because contentment is not really about having everything we want. It is about recognizing when what we have is enough.

As November begins and the holiday advertisements encourage us to buy more, decorate more, and do more, perhaps we should consider a different approach. What if we spent less time making lists of things we need and more time recognizing the blessings already surrounding us?

We might begin by looking around our homes and appreciating the things that hold memories rather than monetary value. We might make a telephone call instead of another purchase, share a meal with someone who lives alone, or simply enjoy an afternoon without feeling obligated to accomplish something.

The apostle Paul understood that contentment was something to be learned. It did not depend upon circumstances being perfect.

There is a quiet freedom in discovering that enough really can be enough.

And perhaps one of the greatest blessings of growing older is realizing that the richest life is not necessarily the one filled with the most possessions, but the one filled with gratitude, faith, and love.

Note from Betsy: My two 2027 calendars, Reflections by the Sea and Betsy Ore Glass Fine Art, are available at Downtown Books in Manteo, NC, or online at www.betsyoreglass.com