Called Out

My husband totally called me out the other day.  And I'm thankful that he did. 

It was a nice lazy summer morning.  We had no where to go.  Nothing really to do.  So, I leisurely got out of bed and shuffled down stairs into my kitchen for my morning cup of coffee. 

I love my morning cup of coffee.  

In fact, I probably love it way too much.

I'm way too particular how I like my coffee.  

Strong.

With Splenda.

And only Publix brand coffee creamer.

God apparently wanted to speak to me through my coffee this particular morning because       I HAD NO CREAMER.  

My husband offered me his sugar-free Coffee-Mate Hazelnut flavored creamer.  

Nope.  Wouldn't do.  That wasn't my Publix brand coffee creamer.  

My day was RUINED.

I started moping around, grumbling under my breath.  

My husband offered to run to Starbucks for me.  

Nope.  I wanted MY Sam's club brew with Splenda and my Publix brand coffee creamer.

Then I started griping about how I had to schlep all 4 kids to the grocery so I could buy my Publix brand coffee creamer.  

My husband didn't say anything.  He simply walked over to our white board where we write verses for us, as a family, to memorize and wrote, "What are you grateful for?"  

Then he offered to go to the grocery and get some creamer for me.  Ah, sweet man!  I informed him that it would take no time to zip up to the new Publix about 1.5 miles from our house so he could get my Publix brand coffee creamer.  He had a different agenda.  He thought it would be quicker to run up to the Kroger that is about a half mile from our house and get some half-and-half.  

Oh, wretched heart of mine!  Was I grateful?  NO!!!  All I could do was grumble that it would be Kroger half-and-half, not my Publix brand coffee creamer!! 

Alas, he came home a few minutes later with the Kroger half-and-half.  I retrieved the carton of my beloved Publix brand coffee creamer from the garbage just to compare labels and prove that nothing could compare to my Publix brand coffee creamer.  

And guess what.  

Yup.

They are the exact same.  

I thanked my husband and enjoyed my delicious cup of joe.

Later on, I emailed my husband and told him I was grateful for a sweet man who would run out to get his grumbling wife some creamer.  

And a little while later he brought to my attention that I had SO MUCH MORE to be grateful for: money to go to the grocery, a car to take me there, the ability to buy just about anything I want or desire while I am there, a beautiful kitchen in which to house all of my groceries, a storage closet to place the overflow.

BAM!  There it was.  The thump on the head that I needed.  

There has definitely been a spirit of discontentment in our house lately.  

It's summertime, and while I love having all 4 of my girls around....it's summertime and I have all 4 of my girls around.  And it's 95 degrees outside.  

There is so much to complain about.  To grumble about.  We live in a broken world.  I am sinful and often give in to the desires of my flesh.  I am often discontent.  

This is sin.  Period.  

God graciously lavishes upon myself and my family.  We have so many comforts that many in this world do not.  And how do I thank my gracious Lord?  By spitting in His holy face and complaining.  Ugh.  My wretched heart!  

But, we want to fight against that.  We want to be able to say along with Paul in Philippians 4:11-12:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Can I honestly say that I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances?  The really ugly truth is that my circumstances are pretty sweet.  Yet I still grumble.  Ugh.  My wretched heart!

There's a great song by Steve Green, "Do Everything Without Complaining or Arguing".  It's from the verse Philippians 2:14-15, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky".  This is a verse we often quote to our girls as they complain or argue (which is quite often).  My husband was really convicted, pointing out to me that we often righteously remind our girls about this verse, yet we are doing exactly what this verse says not to do!  How many times a day do our daughters see us complain?  Probably way too many times!  So, why are we surprised that they often complain?  Ugh.  My wretched heart! 

One goal my family has while we are on this earth is to become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. We want to shine among them like stars in the sky.  We want to be different than our culture.  

Lord, please forgive me for my complaining and grumbling.  Please create in me a new spirit.  In Jesus' name, I bind the spirit of discontentment and ask that you would replace it with a spirit of contentment and gratitude.  Help me speak gratefulness for all the wonderful things you have lavished upon me and my family. And help me to go even beyond that - to speak gratefulness and thankfulness even when I don't have the things I want.  You, Lord, give me everything I need.  Help me not to be in want. 

 In Jesus' name I pray.