The next time you feel like grumbling, borrow Christ’s smile when you don’t have one to give. Complaining only shrinks your soul and impacts others negatively. Instead, pray a blessing over the people in your life and you will feel blessed too.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope. Am I right Joni, that you have several girlfriends who help get you up each day?
JONI:Well, I sure do. And you know, Shauna, I have got a responsibility to them. A girlfriend or two arrives at our home to start the coffee, give me a bed bath, do toileting routines, get me dressed, sit me up on my wheelchair. And sometimes I can hear them in the kitchen getting things ready and I think, “Lord, I’m in such pain, and I have no strength for this day, let alone for these dear women. I have no smile for my helpers. But you do! Please let me borrow your smile.” And by the time they open the bedroom door with a fresh cup of coffee, my attitude has been well cast for the day. I have God’s smiling grace. I am ready to serve my helpers as they serve me. And I do it because of Ephesians 4:16 where it says that we are one with other believers, and so, we have got a responsibility to them. The verse puts it this way – it says, “From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” And my work in the body of Christ is to not complain. It's to build others up; always facing my problems with them in mind. Just like those girls who help me get up in the morning.
Because if I were to growl about my pain and paralysis, it would diminish the spiritual walk of those helpers. It would sow negative seeds of discord and it would release them to complain about their headaches and hardships. This exact thing happened in Numbers 14 when Moses sent out men to spy the Promised Land. And they came back and they made the whole congregation grumble because of their bad report. Those men who were spies failed in their responsibility to others in the community. And we can learn a lesson from that, for I cannot provide a better service to the people around me, including the girls who help me, than to not complain.
You may have heard me say that last year I lost a lot of strength in my paralyzed arm, the one that I used to be able to feed myself, using an arm-splint and a bent spoon. It’s hard, but at least I could do it back then. But then when I lost that strength, and my arm became completely useless? No one, no one would have blamed me had I complained.
But I don’t want any complaint to shrink my soul, dishonor my Lord, diminish my inheritance, or impact others negatively. So every Friday evening, my neighbor Kristen comes to our house around mealtime to feed me. It’s what I must do now – find someone who is willing to cut up my food and lift it to my mouth so I can enjoy dinner while my husband enjoys his. But to make sure I don’t allow myself a centimeter of self-pity, I’ll always take a moment to bless her hands. I’ll say, “Lord, shine your favor on Kristen who is serving you tonight by serving me.” You know, that blessing that I share over my neighbor probably helps me as much as it does her.
You know, I hope I don’t sound like I’m some saint on a pedestal. No really, I hope not. I don’t think I should be the exception. Titus 2:7 was written for all of us where it says, “Above all, set yourself apart as a model of a life nobly lived.” And there’s nothing noble about a complaining spirit. Yes, followers of Jesus Christ should expect more from each of us. Much, much more.
SHAUNA: Oh Joni, I’m sure everyone has been blessed by all these messages about the dangers of complaining this week. And friend, if you want to pass that blessing on, just go to joniradio.org where you’ll find a link to all the transcripts of Joni’s messages. And remember, that’s joniradio.org.
JONI: Thank you, Shauna.
© Joni and Friends