I don’t know about you, but I complained a lot this past week.
I complained about:
* my “check engine light” coming on again in my completely paid for Jeep
* a long day at work where I get paid for working with the most amazing people
* the doctor’s office not calling in my insurance-paid-for prescription soon enough
* the price of gas that I have to put in my completely paid for Jeep that’s still running because the “check engine light” wasn’t a problem after all
* the 70’s decor in the mountain condo I got to stay in for free
* the bad mattress in the 70’s condo I got to stay in for free
* my kids “dumping” all their problems on me because they still want me in their lives even though they are adults
* my kids not returning my calls because my son is busy taking finals after his first year of law school and my daughter is busy running her own business
* the air-conditioning in my office being too cold
* a friend misunderstanding me and telling me about it because she really cares and wants to understand
* not getting enough sleep because I am working on an exciting new project
* the heat and dry weather because we need rain
* it’s going to snow this next week
I think you get it. I complained about a lot of stuff in the midst of my pretty amazing life.
And then I met Lauren. Lauren is 14 years old — a freshman in high school. I will let you listen to her story. You can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCgBKwAG8jA&feature=share or click on the link below.
I’ve listened to it a few times and I am brought to my knees — to give thanks and check myself before those complaints come so quickly and easily from my heart to my lips. I want to follow this 14-year old and consider my difficulties an opportunity to love. As artist Brian Andreas wrote, “Anyone can slay a dragon . . . buy try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That’s what takes a real hero.”
“O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!” (Psalm 103:1)