Thursday, August 7, 2008

Do Everything Without Complaining or Arguing...


Dear Sisters,

"Do everything without complaining or arguing."  Philippians 2:14

How I hear these Words in my mind over and over, especially when I want
to do one or the other. Mostly the complaining part. So within the last
year I have had this imaginary conversation with a woman from the mid
1800's; and when I am tempted to complain, rather than to thank God for
His many goodnesses, I say this silently to her in her era:

How can I complain when I can hold the whole counsel of God in my hands
and read it any time I want?

How can I complain when I can go to the sink and hot and cold water pours
out for me at the flick of my wrist?
 
How can I complain when at the push of a button I can have instant heat
on my stove?
 
How can I complain when it takes me minutes to load my washer and at the
push of a button all the work is done for me?
 
How can I complain when I can get into my car and be at a market within
15 minutes?
 
How can I complain when I can have hot or cold air piped into my car
while driving?
 
How can I complain when I can listen to the most beautiful music while
driving?
 
How can I complain when I can see the doctor or the dentist on the same
day I am suffering?
 
How can I complain when I can write a letter and send it to be received
on the same day I sent it?

How can I complain when the shelves are so full of good things at my
supermarket?
 
How can I complain when I can use double coupons to take off more than
half of the price of an item?
 
How can I complain when I can buy clothes cheaper than the cost of just
the thread at garage sales and thrift shops?
 
How can I complain when I can turn on this machine called a vacuum and it
sucks up all the dirt for me in my house?
 
How can I complain when I can turn my oven on and have a fresh cake in
thirty minutes using a mixer first to mix it?
 
How can I complain when I can sleep in front of a fan in the hottest time
of summer?
 
How can I complain when I can go to the air conditioned library in the
summer and use their computers for free?
 
How can I complain when I can talk to my mother in another state on a
moment's notice over a hands free phone?
 
How can I complain when all my trash is picked up every week by this huge
truck?
 
How can I complain when I can soak away my aches and pains in hot water
piped right into my tub?
 
How can I complain when I don't have to use an outhouse, rather a lovely
bathroom right inside my home?
 
How can I complain when I have this big above ground pool right in my
backyard to jump into when it is so hot?
 
How can I complain when with the flick of a switch I can listen to
Christian music on my radio while cleaning?
 
How can I complain when I have a closet full of clothes for my whole
family?
 
How can I complain when I can turn on my t.v. and learn a whole new
recipe from a celebrated chef for free?
 
How can I complain when I can go "shopping" from my freezer?
 
How can I complain when I can buy canned food for my winter pantry
already canned for me?
 
How can I complain when I can lay fully back in my chaise lounge chair on
a heating pad when I am ill?
 
How can I complain when I want to go to a concert that I can listen to it
right in my kitchen on a CD?
 
How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can light up a whole
room?
 
How can I complain when at the flick of a switch my bread machine starts
mixing my ingredients for me?
 
How can I complain when I can go to the library and obtain any book, CD,
magazine, or recipe I want?
 
How can I complain when I can open a door and all kinds of foods are kept
cold for me in my fridge?
 
How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can blend a wonderful
drink or batter?
 
How can I complain when at the flick of another switch my iron is hot and
ready to smooth out the wrinkles before church?
 
How can I complain when I can add numerous long numbers accurately with a
calculator I bought for a dollar?
 
How can I complain when I need glasses now to read when I bought them for
a dollar at the Dollar Store?
 
How can I complain when I have so many competitive stores to shop from?
 
How can I complain when I just turn on a hose to water my plants?
 
How can I complain when there are so many beautiful parks to behold?
 
How can I complain when the roads are so smooth and easily traveled?
 
How can I complain when I can fly anywhere at a moment's notice if need
be on an airplane.
 
How can I complain when there are shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, and
cleansers of all kind to clean, clean, clean?
 
How can I complain when I can flick a switch and a crockpot slowly cooks
my food all day while I am away?
 
How can I complain when I can warm our bed before we get into it with the
softest electric blanket?
 
How can I complain when my family is far away who I can talk to on a cell
phone?
 
How can I complain when not having a vacation because I've got one whole
day a week to enjoy?
 
How can I complain?
 
How can I possibly complain?
 
"For if a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the
days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with
goodness...I say that a stillborn child is better than he...though it has
not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,
even if he lives a thousand years twice - but has not seen goodness."
Eccl. 6:3-6
 
How can I complain when every day is such Sweet Sabbath Rest with Him?
 
Love,
Laine

This is from Laines Letters...if you aren't familiar with her sharings, do check them out!