What If I Didn't Complain About This

 

Do all things

without grumbling or questioning,

that you may be blameless

   and innocent children of God

without blemish in the midst

of a crooked and

         twisted generation,

among whom you shine

as lights in the world,

holding fast to

    the word of life....

        Philippians 2. 14-16

(Things are so dark and broken

  in this world

that even not complaining

     is a strong witness.

Others are watching us,

not to see if our lives are perfect,

but how we respond

         when it isn't.

The word all

    means exactly that.

Not that we are impervious

     to the hard stuff,

but we walk differently in it.

Grumbling never makes it better,

but does not trust

        in the goodness of God,

even in what we don't understand.)

O LORD,

Help us to realize that

   what we dwell on

is manifest in how we speak

       and how we respond.

Make us a clear witness

   to point others

           to Your light.

May we respond differently

because we are not carrying

  boulders of grumbling

  and complaining.

Shine through us, we pray.