November 21, 2007
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Admire the Hand of God’s Providence
photo by brother Dan“I frequently sat down to my meat with thankfulness, and admired the hand of God’s providence, which had thus spread my table in the wilderness.I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted, and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them;
and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something He has not given them.
All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”
~ Daniel Defoe in Robinson Crusoe
Comments (6)
What a wonderful passage! I’ve never read Robinson Crusoe, but I may have to add it to my too-long-already to-read list.
Carrie
That is an absolutely marvelous passage. I’m going to make everyone at my dinner table listen to that!
And yeah, I’m having to run out one.more.time
This is one thing I do think about fairly often these days – how God has provided for me and especially how He provides for me now. I have want for nothing, I live in a comfortable (albeit somewhat messy) apartment and have enough money to pay my bills. The best part is that I have peace of mind and can live my life loving God, expressing what I think, and not be made fun of or put down for it. God is so faithful.
Just a couple of tidbits…
Author Dominick Dunne listed Anthony Trollope’s *The Way We Live Now* as his favorite book and Tomie DePaola like’s Kirstin Lavransdatter.
Obviously, I’m still enjoying this volume….I hope PaperBack Swap comes throught for you.
Your later post on what we all do not need and DeFoe’s passage, especially the last sentence, hit home. I receive piles of catalogues daily – once you order one item, suddenly you’re on everyone’s list – anyway, these catalogues range from Lillian Vernon to Levenger and I dutifully flip through each one wondering if I’ll find that perfect gift on the next page, or the next page, or…
Now, on a lighter note, every year I have given my dad handkerchiefs because he’s always used them and I thought they wore out. Last Christmas, he gently shared with me that he has at least 6 unopened boxes of monogrammed handkerchiefs in his dresser drawer — he was so afraid of hurting my feelings.
Loved that book! No one should grow up without reading it. Hope you don’t mind me reposting it. Seems like such necessary words for today’s culture.
~Janie