“I have nothing to complain about.” said a young Zambia girl on bus ride. Her statement reached farther than she could ever realize.
This host family came to the border of Malawi and Zambia to pick up Z squad at the border. The rain was coming down and everyone cramped into the vans. Once we were all loaded up I was in a van with a mother, daughter, and a couple other locals.
As we were driving the radio kept going in and out. It was slightly annoying but the funny part was the same dry song that kept starting over from the beginning. This happened about 3-4 times before the daughter spoke up and asked the driver, “Could you please change the channel, this song is boring.”
The driver changed the channel and we finally heard a new song but then the radio went out again. And sure enough that same boring song started over again from the beginning. The daughter being slightly annoyed started to speak up…..untill she got that look only a mother can give. You know the “look.” The look that stares right into the heart of the matter and you have officially been called out. But called out in love, called out in a loving way to rise above the situation.
The daughter replied in a humbled way of “I have nothing to complain about.”
This one statement effected everyone in the car. In her situation she realizes she has nothing to complain about.
How often do I come across such a situation and take the low road? I go down the path of how am I right, I need this to be fixed, and speak up again and again. But why? Why do we allow small silly things get the best of our attitudes?
I know I try to be thankful in every situation and look for the positive. Not because I know others have it worse but rather because God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. The shear blessing of being a healthy person, born into a loving family, and in America! Blessed because God took me through many trials, sorrows, and He still loves me. Blessed because I know I have sinned but have been fully FORGIVEN because of what Jesus did on the cross over 2,000 years ago.
Let’s look past the small annoying things in life and keep our eyes focused on the Kingdom! Stay focused on issues that have eternal ramifications and the earthly problems seem to fade away!
Be Bold in speaking truth into each other in a loving manner.
Be Intentional to seek the blessing in your life and not to get hung up on the small annoying things.
