CONTENT TO BE DISCONTENT

     Jones, a wealthy financier, had on many occasion in the good old  days — when trains were flourishing and coaches were the last word in
 technological luxury — crossed the continent by Pullman.  He was well  known and well served and was accustomed to every convenience,
 particularly when dining. Imagine his exasperation, then, when it turned  out that the chef did not have tutti-frutti ice cream.

     “No tutti-frutti?” he shouted.  “I always have tutti-frutti.”     “I’m sorry, sir,” said the waiter, soothingly.  “We have chocolate,
 vanilla, strawberry, black walnut, cherry, mocha almond –”

     “I want tutti-frutti,” cried Jones, banging the table and turning red.  “I have always had tutti-frutti and I won’t have anything else.”

     For miles he muttered, scowled, growled, and snarled at everyone, so  that every train employee on board had visions of angry reprisals.
 Finally, the train stopped at a station; a word to the conductor kept it  there while the crew scoured the town for tutti-frutti ice cream.

     A whole pint of the dessert was found and all of it was presented to  Jones, with huge gobs of cherry sauce on it, together with a sliced banana
 and a swirl of whipped cream.     “Here is your tutti-frutti ice cream, Mr. Jones,” said the quaking  waiter.

     Jones looked at it with a scowl, then with a sudden swipe of his arm  hurled it to the floor, shouting, “I’d rather have my grievance!”

     As embarrassing as it is to admit it, I have been in that same  situation. There are times when I have been most content to be discontent
 and have received great enjoyment from being unhappy.  And pity the person  who tried to appease me and deprive me of the “pity party” I was throwing  myself!  Have you been there as well?

     “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!”  (Philippians 4:4)

—  Alan Smith