Yesterday, hubby & I had a wonderful & until recently a very rare treat. Now most people can have this treat without even thinking about it but for some of us it has been fraught with serious risks.

I thought we would reflect upon treats & contentment today, which seems an odd pairing but one does bring the other in the moment! Don’t you agree?

But first let’s grab our cuppa’s, a yummy treat & get comfy before we begin. I’m having a Caramel & Butterscotch Café Latte with a gf warm Banana Muffin just out of the oven with butter melting upon it’s deliciousness. What are you having my friend?

A very rare Treat indeed

Those who come here often will know that I have Coeliac Disease which means all forms of gluten are dangerous for me & it can be in just about every product not marked Gluten Free!

Now the only place I could have a meal out have been in dedicated Gluten Free Cafes/Restaurants which are very rare in our region in fact there’s only one within travelling distance (an hour away). 

As even having a ‘gluten free’ option in any ‘normal’ cafe/restaurant has been fraught with the risk of gluten contamination from kitchens that prepare gluten meals (as only a trace of gluten can cause a severe reaction). And this can simply be that a utensil that has been used for a gluten meal is then used mistakenly for my meal in the cooking process, yes it’s that critical.

So I’ve needed to take my homemade gluten free lunch or meal with me whenever we’re out visiting or meeting family in Cafes/Restaurants for family celebrations.

Which has been difficult over the years as everyone around me orders & eats delicious Restaurant meals & I sit with my homemade gf salad or sandwich. But I’ve always been grateful for God’s provision none the less.

However, recently here in Australia & now available to other places around the world, an over the counter medication has been released (Gluteguard *) that deals with any gluten contamination in ‘gluten free option’ meals that may be consummed in ‘normal’ cafe/restaurants.

That being said I need to clarify that I still can’t eat Gluten, as it doesn’t cure Coeliac Disease or Gluten Intolerance.

But I can have a ‘gluten free option’ meal in any cafe/restaurant now, as it will deal with any traces of gluten contamination that may be in the meal preventing a reaction!

So yesterday hubby & I had a very rare treat, we went to an Asian Restaurant for a ‘gluten free option’ meal, I can’t tell you just how much of a treat this was for us.

We thoroughly enjoyed this meal savoring all of the wonderful flavours of the East that I well remembered from living there all those years ago, shared in;

Penang, Pearl of the Orient

but more importantly I didn’t need to be concerned about getting contaminated with gluten & a severe reaction following.

In those moments on our special treat both hubby & I felt very content enjoying our time together. And you’ll be happy to know that the medication did exactly what it promised, there was no cause for concern!

This has opened up a whole new future of dining experiences for  hubby & I on our mini dates since my Coeliac diagnosis sixteen years ago.

What is Contentment?

The feeling of contentment during that meal had me thinking about the following; What is true contentment?

I think we need a dictionary definition before we go any further;

 Contentment is a state of happiness & satisfaction

So that means that contentedness comes from circumstances/things that both satisfy & make us happy.

But what about the Biblical definition of contentment? The Apostle Paul gives us a wonderful definition speaking from his own experience in the following verse;

“Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.” Philippians 4: 11 AMP

So the Biblical definition of contentment is a perpetual inward state of happiness & satisfaction through Jesus Christ,  independent of our circumstances. It involves finding joy & even gratitude within our current situation because;

“…we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8: 28 AMP

I’d like to highlight Paul’s words here;

“I have learned to be content through Christ.”

Why I’m highlighting these particular words is that Paul is pointing out that it’s a learning curve to be able to come to this point in our journey with the Lord.

It’s not an overnight happen stance. It’s trusting the Lord bit by bit through each & every situation that we face in our lives with Him. It’s coming to that place of contentedness in Christ that no matter what we face we are not distrubed or uneasy for we know He has this.

And my friend I believe it’s a life long journey, for just when you think you’ve reached it, a situation will present itself & a wobble of uneasiness occurs, often called anxiety, worrying or over concern signalling that we have more to learn to reach the type of contentment Paul is talking about.

Also remember Paul was in his senior years when he wrote Philippians & had been through much with the Lord since his conversion on the road to Damascus decades before. And through those decades of experiences had come to know, in his own words;

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” Philippians 4: 13 AMP

My friend may we continue to grow bit by bit in the Lord & in His contentment while we, “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Phil 3:14).

Until next time,

Jennifer

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or in Prayer

© 2025 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved.  Photos by cottonbro studio on pexels.com

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* Disclaimer; I do not gain any type of profit whatsoever in either mentioning this product or by sharing my experience. Nor does my shared experience in any way replace your own Physician’s advice, as I’m not a Physician.