Contentment...the most radical expression of Christian faith?

I read a lovely blog post this evening titled, "I Don't Want Kids," as well as the great discussion that ensued in the comments section. One commenter, Abby, had some great insight that's really got me thinking about what a blessing the contentment I've experienced in the last year and a half has been. I know it's been a blessing to me, and to Ryan...but I've also prayed that it's a blessing to others. Can they see the change in me? Do they know what a miracle it is that I'm no longer bitter and depressed over not having children?

So Abby's statement of  "I'm pretty sure contentment is the most radical expression of Christian faith" gave me a thrill of hope. It's hard to think of something that we're doing/choosing/experiencing being the "most radical expression," so maybe I wouldn't go quite that far...but I think there's something to what she said. Choosing to be content in circumstances we wouldn't choose is no small thing. A miracle, indeed.

Another gem from Abby: "If God changes your heart and overrides your careful planning..." I think that's the ultimate lesson a woman can learn. I, like many, and as my writings here the last few years have noted, am a big fan of being in control and having a plan. But when He rocked that and helped me realize that control and planning is better left to Him, it resulted in exactly what Abby said..."Either way, you're set. No fear." (As you can tell...her words really struck a chord with me!)

Now I just need to be careful not to let the pendulum swing back the other way. "Contentment without children" has turned into, "yeah, we really don't want children." Which makes it awfully tempting to control and plan and make sure it goes my way...but if I trust his plan and his control, I have to rest in the peace of knowing that should children come our way, I'll get to put my lessons learned in contentment to another test. And I shall be just as content with children as I am without.

So here we are...trying our best not to settle into either of the camps that married couples in their early thirties that don't have children often fall into -  "not wanting kids" or "trying to conceive." Either one is about our plan; and either makes it a little too tempting to take control. Contentment is a much better camp to be in...either way, we're set. :)