“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life “ Philippians 2:14-16a
This morning I got up feeling VERY grumpy. Michael is back in a pattern of not sleeping. This is a symptom of his syndrome, although no one knows why. He can go months and even years with only 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night. But we've been on a good roll until about 2 weeks ago and now we're not sleeping again.
So I got up this morning and was not a happy camper...to say the least. I was about to register my complaint with God (or write an email to a sister or friend who I knew would care and feel bad for me) when this verse ran through my mind. I made my kids memorize it when they were little because I didn't want them to complain or argue!! Suddenly the table was turned and the verse applied to me! And there is a powerful principle here.
Don’t you just hate it when the Bible uses words like “everything” and “never”. I would rather that verse say, “Do most things without complaining or arguing” or “Only complain and argue when things are really bad”. But this passage says “everything”. And it also says that when we live without complaining we will shine like stars and we will be better positioned to hold out the word of life to a lost and dying world.
I know that the greatest impact my family has had is in living life with a handicapped child with hope and with grace. When people see you living a hard thing without complaining, they need to know how. And then the door is wide open to share words of life and truth, we only live this way because we have a grace and a strength that is not our own! (don't misunderstand, I've done plenty of complaining...I just see the difference between when I do and when I don't)
But, you might ask...or at least I have asked....how will people know I'm living a hard thing if I don't tell them?? What I'm learning is that God knows and that is enough. It's the relying on His strength to carry on with joy that changes things in my heart and allows me to offer hope to others. The Bible says He is the "One who sees". He knows, He cares and that is enough....well, on most days..I'm getting there!
So I'm going back to what I wrote long ago and I'm restarting my day by focusing on what God HAS done for me and all that I have to be thankful for. He is gracious and has given me way more than I deserve!
There are just too many people who need to hear the words of life for me to forfeit the opportunity by being a complainer!
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