Pure contentment is not often experienced

Perfect contentment is something I rarely experience. I have been trying to hold on to that feeling all week. It hasn't been easy.

Someone once asked me what contentment meant. I tried to explain that it is satisfaction with the way things are. It is a feeling that all is right with the world. There isn't a need for anything more. It is beyond mere happiness. It is perfection permeating the soul.

Last Saturday was one of those rare occasions. The sun was shining. The roads were clear. The blue hyacinth I had forced from bulbs given to me by my husband at Christmas was in full bloom and the pink one was about to open. The perfume made the house smell like spring.

We took a road trip to Fort Wayne. We stopped at a craft store and my husband found something I had been looking for since before Christmas. Plus I found some cheap craftsy items for my granddaughter to make.

Then we went to the Home and Garden Show. There wasn't that much to the garden part but the greenery was as refreshing as the place was crowded. After a few hours of walking and being elbowed in personal places we left and headed out.

We thought we were walking towards the car but weren't sure so I tried to sound the horn. Except I hit the trunk lid instead. One aisle over the trunk lid waved at us. Oops! It did make it easy to find.

We then went to a woodworking store where I found dozens of new ideas for carving. I am an inept beginner and have no idea what I am doing. The possible creations are as enticing as chocolate Easter bunnies are to a chocoholic. I restrained myself and bought two books and a few odds and ends. Now I am encouraged to quit blinding the Santa I am working on just so I can start something else.

We then went to dinner and had the best steak we have had in a long time. As we were eating I looked over at my husband and that's when I felt it. Perfect contentment. I enjoy his company. I had enjoyed the entire day. I couldn't imagine anyone else who would have indulged my hobbies and wishes as much as he did. I fell in love all over again.

Of course, I told him none of this. I wouldn't want to ruin it in case he didn't feel the same way.

Sunday we went to my Mom's for the February birthdays. There are currently four of us with February birthdays. One is in Arkansas so we didn't expect his company. When we got to Mom's my brother, David, was shoveling the last of the snow from the driveway.

He said Mom told everybody that I probably wasn't coming because the roads were bad so they all made other plans. I had a cow. We have been celebrating February birthdays the last Sunday in February for 40 . . . um . . . a very long time.

We visited with Mom and David for awhile before David left to pick up his wife. They were going out to dinner with another couple. I left their son's birthday present with David. Said son is now all of 14 years old and was out with a girl. Guess I won't be seeing much of him any more. Girls are much more important than aunts.

My other brother, Michael, was called in to work. Since I wasn't going to be there he accepted the overtime. I left his birthday present at Mom's.

It was getting more and more difficult to maintain that contentment I had felt the day before.

I remember feeling that same sense of contentment walking though forests and being surrounded by lush greenery. There is something about the silence that soothes my soul.

I remember feeling content while rocking a sleeping baby. The weight of a child and the warmth of their little bodies as they melt into my arms is such a wonderful feeling.

What gives you contentment? I'm not talking about simple satisfaction or pleasure. I mean pure, soul satisfying contentment, even if family does abandon you on your birthday.[[In-content Ad]]