Contentment

The droplet said: “I am not happy with what I am. I wish I was a puddle.”  So the droplet tried real hard to make himself more than he was, spread himself too thin, and evaporated.

The puddle said: “I am not happy with what I am. I wish I was a pool.”  So the puddle lifted itself from the confines of its boundaries and went here and there and drained away.

The pool said: “I am not happy with what I am. I wish I was a lake.”  So the pool spread itself wide and became so shallow that no one came to swim anymore.

The lake said: “I am not happy with what I am. I wish I was a river.”  So the lake stirred up its waters to go this way and that.  Its motion became commotion and many were afraid to go to the lake anymore.

The river said: “I am not happy with what I am. I wish I was an ocean.”  So the river stopped its mighty flow and the waters of the river widened and destroyed many lives.

Tim said: “I am not happy with who I am.”

10 replies
  1. Tim Brown
    Tim Brown says:

    Matt, so true. When I have tried to be something more than what I am, something other than what I am, something else than what I am – whether a droplet, a puddle, a pool, a lake, a river, or an ocean – somebody’s going to get hurt.

    I love an observation by Spurgeon I read years ago. He said something to the effect that a droplet reflects the sunshine as well as a puddle or a lake or the sea. Whatever my size, I am to reflect the glory of God. Actually, the little ditty above was inspired by the memory of Spurgeon’s observation. I know that the older I get, the more satisfied I become with God’s plan for me and His work in me and His influence through me. Has my ministry been as big as I wanted it to be? No. Has my influence been as wide as I wanted it to be? No. Has Christ been seen in my life by those He has sent my way? I think so. I am satisfied with leaving the size of my ministry and the breadth of my influence in the hands of Christ. I am content.

    • Matt Kottman
      Matt Kottman says:

      Amen. A man can receive nothing unless it is given him from heaven. So liberating, especially as a preacher, when we realize, I’m not that guy, and I’m not that guy, and I’m not that guy either so I should stop trying to sound like them.

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