I was recently reminded how we can become so accustomed to opportunities and lifestyles that we take them for granted or are blinded to them.  For instance, can most of us reading this blog imagine not having a day off from work for 7 months and making $5 an hour on average?  (And, no, I’m not referring to parenting!)  I think the longest I have been without an off day is 21 days, and I venture to say that few to none of us have worked this type of schedule for this type of pay in America.  These are thoughts that I have pondered a lot in the past few weeks since embarking on a vacation…

Todd and I enjoy cruising and were able to immensely enjoy our Christmas present a few weeks ago as we cruised the Caribbean.   We relaxed, laughed, re-connected, toured places never seen, and met several people.  I like getting to know people, and I love hearing about their families, lifestyles, culture, and/or religion.  This cruise definitely provided great opportunities for such conversations.

As we spoke daily to some of the wait staff on our cruise, Todd and I learned that there were over 60 nationalities represented by the wait staff.  Surprisingly though, we also learned that not ONE staff member serving as a steward, waiter, etc. was from the United States.  A staff member even commented that he had not seen anyone from the U.S. as wait staff in his 5 years of employment.  These staff members work an average of 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 7 months at a time.  No off days for 7 months straight!  Then they get to go home for 2 months and the cycle begins again.  I can’t imagine the hardship of being away from my family and home for 7 months consistently; having no off days; learning another language; and making an average of $1500 a month (according to my Google research).  This is about $5 an hour on average, which is considered good in many areas of the world.  This must not appeal to many Americans, however, because we aren’t lining up to apply for these jobs.  But those from other countries are…

One staff member from India told me that we have such a great privilege in America to be able to go to school and get good jobs at home near our families.  He is right.  I recognize that there will always be very real problems in our country that need solving; however, I believe at times, we complain about and focus so much on what we dislike that we take our incredible opportunities for granted and contentment often eludes us.  Sadly, even some church messages will compel us to seek more and more, instead of compelling us towards gratefulness.  I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with working hard, taking vacations, and taking care of our families and homes.  However, sometimes these things can take priority, can be deemed as deserved, or can become so consuming in our lives that we begin to complain about the silliest things and consider ourselves entitled.

I definitely need reminders to be content, grateful, and thankful.  Paul writes in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  A few other scriptures on this topic are 1 Timothy 6:6 that says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  And in Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

I returned from this vacation thanking God for my job, my family, our wonderful time away to re-charge, and the country in which I was graciously born.  I share all of this in the hope of inspiring us all to be more mindful of contentment, gratefulness, and thankfulness in our daily lives.  As God’s Church, may our contentment forever be firmly rooted in Him.