That's A Tough One

Do everything without grumbling and complaining and faultfinding and questioning. Philippians 2:14

I’m pretty sure St. Paul also meant to add the word arguing to that list too. This verse from Philippians just so happens to be the first set of WOW words for the middle lovelies this school year. They are not the words I had chosen and written in my lesson plan book but somehow on Monday morning they were the ones that jumped off the page as I was searching for the verse I had planned. That always means they are perfect for somebody! As we read, wrote, discussed and privately reflected on this verse the reactions were hilarious. I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

*Seriously, that’s like a real rule we’re supposed to follow?

*If I stop saying all that stuff my mom will never hear my voice!

*Does getting into Heaven have anything to do with that verse because if it does I’m in big trouble!

*Is this information just for kids or for everybody?

*I think I’d like to ask my parents to read this verse because if I have to try to live by it I think they should too.

*Seriously, can anybody besides Pope Francis even do that?

*I could probably do better with this if my mom would quit trying to make me eat vegetables every day.

As you might imagine, there has been a lot of great discussion! I would love to read their prayer journals and see how they responded to the question; “What’s your plan to live this verse?” One middle lovely asked me if I picked hard verses on purpose. I seriously have the best job ever!

As I have prayed with this verse myself this week I have been tested as I try to live it. It’s amazing how many times I find myself stumbling over these words. It all reminded me of a quote I heard last year that said; “Complaining is the greatest form of selfishness.” That quote stings because each time I grumbled or complained this week it was because something happened that wasn’t convenient or easy or pleasant for me. This verse shines a light and as the middle lovelies and I have discovered, we don’t always like what we see in the light. One of the middle lovelies asked, “How am I ever gonna stop this?” Before I could reply, in chimed the perfect answer, “If we pray more and think of the stuff people are good at we will have less time to complain and say nasty stuff.” Well put, don’t ya think!

A Seed To Plant: Write this verse down and stick it in a few places. When you’ve let it wash over you a few days, keep track of the number of times in a week you are tempted to do exactly what the verse tells us not to. What if we all followed that smart middle lovely’s advice?

Blessings on your day!