I just picked up this classic for the first time. I would encourage anyone to read this. It’s interesting, it reads fast, and it reminds us that although much around us appears to change, there is really nothing new under the sun.

The following is from the middle of the book. He’d been shipwrecked for some time – ten years or so – living only on what he could salvage from the wreckage and that which he could find, make, grow, or kill.

“I had now brought my state of life to be much easier in itself than it was at first, and much easier to my mind as well as to my body. I frequently sat down to 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 that 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.”

A great and simple recipe for a rich, contented life. To fight against anxiety and worry, there is no better remedy than this:

~ Recognize the hand of God’s providence

~ Give less consideration to what might be lacking

~ Approach the day with thankfulness for what I have

~ Take another step and begin to express thankfulness for what others have that I do not

May we all be so wealthy. Have a thankful week!