"Content is wealth, the riches of the mind;
And happy is he who can such riches find."
Do you always complain for what you do not have? Have you ever reflected on the blessing you have received from God?
If you do, you will find yourself happy and thankful. To be contented with what you have gives you immense joy. Moreover, it is always a wise thing to do rather than crib, complain and remain unhappy.
There was an old widow. She lived alone in her small hut. She was very poor but still she was happy. She never complained. Every morning, she would get up and pray, "I thank you God for all that you have given me."
During the summer
season, it grew very hot. Nobody went outside in the afternoon. One day, an old beggar came and knocked at her door. She had just sat down for her lunch. She said to herself. "Who could have come at this time?" She got up and opened the door. She saw a weak old man standing outside in the sun. She said, "Baba, please come inside." The beggar entered the hut. He saw that there was only one bread and salt on her plate. He was feeling very hungry. He said, "Kind
woman, I have not had anything for two days. Can you give me something to eat?" The widow offered him plate. She said, "Baba, I am glad that today I have something to give you."
The Baba smiled at her. He ate the bread. Then he asked for a glass of water. She gave it to him. The beggar said, "Summer is such a bad season. It is so hot." The widow shook her head and said, "No, Baba, summer has its own charm. In this season there are so many juicy fruits to eat." The Baba thought, "She is so poor. She cannot even buy fruits but she does not complain." Be did not say anything. In the evening, he took her leave and went his way.
The season changed. After autumn, winter came. The sum did not shine for many days. There was a cold wind blowing. It was bitterly cold. People kept their doors and windows shut. They did not leave their homes. The old beggar again knocked on the widow''s door.
The widow took him inside. This time, shivering with cold, he said, "It is so cold. I hate winter." The woman again smiled and said, "No, Baba, winter is also good. We get so many green vegetables to eat in this season."
The beggar was none other than God himself. He was very pleased with the old widow. He said, "This woman is so poor but she is always thankful for whatever she has." From that day onwards, the widow always had plenty of good things of all the seasons. "Contentment furnishes constant joy. Covetousness leads to constant grief. To the contented, even poverty is joy. To the discontented, even wealth is a vexation."