There’s an old saying: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” What does that mean? It means having one thing right now is better than hoping to get two things later that you might never actually get!

King Solomon put it this way: It’s better to be happy with what you have than to always be wishing you had something else. Always wanting more and more is like trying to catch the wind—you’ll never catch it, and you’ll just tire yourself out trying!

Have you ever gotten a new toy or game and been SO excited about it? But then after a few days, you started thinking, “I wish I had that OTHER toy instead!” That’s called being discontent—not being satisfied with what you have.

God created a beautiful world full of amazing things for us to enjoy! Every good gift comes from Him. But when we spend all our time wishing we had different stuff, we miss out on being thankful for and enjoying what we already have!

The apostle Paul learned a secret: He could be content whether he had a lot or a little. How? Because his happiness came from knowing Jesus, not from his stuff!

Take Action: Play the “Thankful Game”! Look around your house or room right now. Can you find ten things you’re thankful for? They can be anything: your bed, your favorite stuffed animal, your books, your window, your lamp. Write them all down! Then thank God for each one. When you focus on what you HAVE instead of what you don’t have, contentment grows in your heart!