Quit that bellyaching!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing.  Philippians 2:14

"Quit that bellyaching!"  I remember hearing that phrase often while growing up.  Usually it came while I was cleaning my room, working on memory work for Sunday School or picking beans in the garden.  You know, whatever task that a normal kid hates to do.

And now I'm a mother myself.  Just this weekend I found myself telling Ethan that same thing.  "Quit that bellyaching!"  He complained about taking out the garbage, about mailing a letter for me, about playing with his brother.  It just seemed that old mom couldn't get it right--that all he wanted to do was bask in front of the TV all weekend.

Don't you wonder if God doesn't want to say that to us from time to time?  "Quit that bellyaching!"  He might want to say that on a Sunday morning, when  all we want to do is turn off the alarm and go back to sleep.  Or that time when you don't feel like volunteering at the church bake sale because it takes away a free Saturday.  Even when you're so tired of fighting with the kids over learning memory work you just don't think you can stand it anymore.  "Quit that bellyaching!"

We are sinful people, after all.  Complaining and arguing comes to us as natural as breathing.  From childhood on, we would rather do what WE want to do, unlike what we were TOLD to do.  But that's why our God sent His Son to die on the cross for us.  He went to that cross, without complaint, without argument, to forgive us for all the times that we complain and argue.  It's something to remember the next time we feel like complaining.

Dear Father, it's hard to get through this life without complaint.  There seem to be days when nothing seems to go right.  Thank you for sending Your Son to the cross.  We know He did that without complaint or argument.  We praise you for washing us of our sins.  Help us to be without complaint, and to live our lives for you.  Amen.