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At the beginning of this year, I wrote about contentment (http://missdaisyspetals.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-true-contentment.html ) and how much I really wanted to experience true contentment in Christ whether I am “up” or “down”. So it was my goal in 2013 to learn how to be content and generally happy with my lot in life. What I didn’t realise then is that this experience of being content is much easier said than done. Half way through this year I blogged about how disappointed I was that everything that I had planned for 2013 basically fell through (http://missdaisyspetals.blogspot.com/2013/07/half-way.html ) and although I expressed my acceptance that this was God’s leading, I still found myself feeling somewhat…discontent.

A few months ago I was on the phone to my good friend Anike expressing my disappointment and confusion about how this year has gone so far. Anike is someone who has done many exciting and fulfilling things in her young life so I took the opportunity to ask her how she felt her year/life was going. She replied “I think all is vanity” Not the response I was expecting “Humans are interesting, you may look at someone’s life and wish you were doing what they are doing or have what they have, and that same person can be looking at  someone else wanting to do what they are doing. It’s all about learning to be content in life as you will always want more”

This conversation was very special to me and got me thinking. Maybe this year didn’t work out the way I had planned because God is trying to show me where exactly I am trying to find contentment. I began to wonder, “Do I truly believe that true contentment comes from Christ alone?” “Am I trying to find contentment in external things?” “What if this year did work out the way I had planned?” “What if Christ did give me all that I desired would I eventually turn around and want more?” “Would I look at what someone else is doing or what they have and wish I was in their shoes?” Anike is right, humans are very interesting the fact that we can be given everything and still want more. Why is that?

From my own experience and observation, I think the problem of discontentment has its roots in these two areas;

1) Christ is not the centre  

All human being have longings, we naturally long for love, acceptance, sense of worth, approval, affection etc. I believe that Jesus has put these longings in us that we might long and thirst for Him and for his love, acceptance and approval.  ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.’John 7:37 When we recognise this fact and place Him in the centre of our lives , we will never thirst. He will satisfy these longings to a point where nothing can disturb our peace even if we are rejected or unloved by those who are closest to us. However most of the time we as humans look for more tangible things to satisfy the thirst of our heart. It could be anything; friends, family, relationships, food, our talents, clothes, television, career and even ministerial activates.  Whether good or bad, if these “things” are being used as a substitution instead of Christ they will automatically become our idols and no matter how deeply we drink of them we will always come up thirstier. Jeremiah 2:13 says ‘For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.’ A cistern is a place where rain water is collected and stored, in the bible times they didn’t have taps in their homes so they would go to a cistern to get water during a dry season. Though cisterns can be helpful they cannot provide as much water as a fountain or completely sustain during a dry season. With a broken cistern, the rain water goes in but cannot be held so just goes straight out.

This scenario reminds me of fizzy drinks and how you still feel thirsty after drinking them, its only water that can truly quench thirst. Likewise these things cannot be a substitute for Christ because they are perishable; Friends and family can fail us, jobs and relationship don’t always work out, the TV programs that some of us are addicted to are not real life, clothes go out of style and make up fades and what is left is a thirsty soul as these things appear to satisfy for a time. Christ, the fountain of living water, is the only one that can truly satisfy the thirsts and longings of our hearts. He offers us living water that may never thirst “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14 He can grant us our heart’s desires and much more but only if we recognise him as our centre.  “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

2) Looking at others

There are times when we can look at other peoples’ lives, who they are and what they are doing and then compare their life to our own and wish to be in their shoes or wonder why our life isn’t as great as theirs. This may not seem like a serious issue but the bible says that this is not wise “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Cor 10:12. I personally believe comparing our life to others is not wise because it can cause discontentment, discouragement and somewhat resentment towards God. We start believing God doesn’t love us because he favours and blesses others more.

We must remember that God has a special purpose for each and every single one of us that is not better or worse than someone else’s but best for us as an individual. It is a great shame to waste our lives away wanting someone else’s life or being discouraged because we are not blessed like so and so. Thinking about this second point has opened my eyes to the dangers of social media,  (Just to be clear, I am not knocking social media as you all know I have a blog, a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account) I personally believe social media can become dangerous if it is being used to “watch” and compare yourself to others. I know many people who are struggling with this and who become very discouraged when they see pictures or status updates of newlyweds/happily married couples, people traveling with friends, people having babies, people sharing aspects of their Christian journey, people going forward in their career or just people expressing their happiness.

When it comes to social media let’s be real and consider this; People will only show you what they want you to see. Think about it, would you post an unattractive picture of yourself or broadcast your family secrets? If married, would you post pictures of you and your husband/wife arguing? No? Same as everybody else (apart from the few exceptions) with social media everyone is putting their best foot forward; even myself, I choose what I wish to share on this blog. Nothing is picture perfect, so let us not be discouraged or envious of people based on their social media highlights but rather be happy for them and enjoy what they are sharing. Don’t forget we all have highlights, even if we don’t realise it.

When it comes to mortal man not all is as it seems, so we need to focus on Christ. Everything about Christ’s life is laid open before us so that we can watch and compare our life to His. How often when we are busy scrolling through Facebook and Instagram do we ask “Is my life reflecting the life of Jesus?” Jesus is the only person we can safely look up to, nothing is hidden or pretentious, everything He is and everything He promises is true and can be ours if we shift our focus away from other peoples’ lives and social media highlights and onto Him.

My Thoughts

 So we’ve reached the last month of 2013 and looking back I can say God has done so much for me this year; I have learnt things that I would not have had the opportunity to learn if I was in my “preferred situation”.  So why was I having feelings of discontentment throughout the year? Why in my heart was I asking for more? Perhaps Christ hasn’t been the centre of my life and perhaps I have been watching people and comparing and God has been using different scenarios throughout this year to bring this to my attention.

A few days ago when I was thinking and writing about this I decided to tell myself “Daisy, don’t waste your Christian journey and your life away just mourning over things that are not going your way. All these feeling are just drawing you away from God, and making it hard for you to grow and develop the character that Christ is trying to instil in you.”

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t aspire to go higher and higher and achieve more, what I am saying is that we should let God lead our lives and be happy with the decisions he makes even if we feel like we are at a standstill and there is no progress, excitement or fulfilment. Christ has allowed us to be where we are now as there is something he wants us to learn, develop or overcome. Be encouraged, your current situation may be preparing you for the very thing that you have wanted to do or the very place in life you want to be; but before He grants you anything He must develop in you the character to maintain whatever he has given you.

So now I am back to where I started, learning to be content but this time the “more” I am asking for is Christ.


Summer 2011



Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥

Danny Boy

17 years ago the world welcomed my twin brother Danny (His name is Daniel but I've only ever call him Danny), though born 7 years apart we are pretty identical and look like twins therefore (in my mind anyway) we’re twins!

Christmas 2011

Danny is an incredibly unique and talented young man and I am so happy that he is my little brother. He is very loving and kind to me, even when I am being “the mean big sister” he has never really ever been disrespectful to me. It feels so strange that he is all grown up now, I remember looking after him, feeding him, changing him etc. I remember when he was a toddler I used to wake him up in the middle of the night so he could sleep with me in my bed when I felt scared.

I’ll never forget the day I was sitting down on the garden step, I had Danny on my lap, as I was trying to feed him some juice. Every time I went to feed him he would move his head away, so I decided it was time to force feed him that juice. I held him tightly and proceeded to feed him but he continued to move his head, the more he moved his head the tighter I held him; he began to shout “Daisy! Daisy!” as I continued to make him drink. My mum turned and said “Daisy, he is saying your name!” “Really?” I thought. I wanted to hear this so I tried to force feed him again and he shouted “Daisy! Daisy!” in order to make me stop; that was the day Danny said his first word.

Danny, my special little brother, I pray that as you continue to grow in years that you will become more responsible and make the right decisions concerning your life, I pray that you will always choose to do the right thing even if it means you standing out amongst the crowd. I pray that you will grow to be the man God wants you to be.

Happy Birthday Danny

Love, your big sister (and twin) forever,

Miss Daisy

Wales 2013

Let me tell you about this woman.

When she was 20 years old she decided to leave Uganda and move to England. Her partner (who later became her husband) wasn’t too keen on the idea; I mean, who did they know in England really? However this woman was determined, she had a vision…she had dreams.

While her husband worked long hours, she started doing hair from home and offering her services at local hair salons. She could have enjoyed a life at home looking after her 5 year old son and 1 year old daughter, but this woman was determined, she needed to help support her family.

Education was very important to her, but with a husband and two young children that had to be set aside, however this woman was determined and patient, it was just a matter of time.

She kept a daily journal with daily prayers for her husband and children. She faithful kept that journey!  Going before God and reviewing her day and setting goals for herself, this woman was determined; she understood the importance of a praying wife and mother.

She would watch cooking programs and with her daughter observing  by her side she would experiment in the kitchen with all kinds of recipes. When her daughter was in primary school every morning she would make her African millet porridge, her daughter loved that porridge and till this day her daughter still calls it yummy porridge. This woman was determined; her daughter had to learn to cook delicious meals.

Heavily pregnant with her second son, she redecorated and painted the whole house. She laboured tirelessly for her husband and children, no surface was left unwiped or bed unmade. This woman was determined; her house had to be a home.

Finally the time came for her to pursue a course of study. Through trial and error, success and (apparent) failures she made history she became the first university graduate in her family. Against all the odds, past mistake, inconveniences and struggles she pushed through and is finally where she wants to be. This woman was determined, determined to finally live her dream.

Do you know this woman? I know this woman, I see her in the mirror sometimes. Since she was 20 years old, I have been watching her. She provided me with a very strong example and some of my greatest strengths can be traced back to her.  Though sheer determination and much sacrifice she taught me, sometimes lessons that I didn’t want to learn.

But the greatest strength she has given me is a knowledge of God. We don’t always see eye to eye in spiritual matters, however through her the gospel seed was planted in my heart.  For years she persevered and made the greatest effort to make sure we attended church every week; (In fact my earliest childhood memory is me being outside my first church in Canning Town) she taught us how to pray and to love God. I am so thankful for her determination in this respect, as years later, by my own choice, I decided to give my heart to Christ.

Mum, I’m so thankful for the journey that God has guided you through; it’s been very inspiring to watch. I thank God for thee; for your determination and love, for everything you are and everything you mean to me.

My Mother and I at Aberdulais Falls 2013

Happy Birthday Mum

Love, your one and only daughter forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥