Think Before You Complain

This morning I was jogging and listening to a radio station in NC. The DJ shared a story about a mother in Maryland saying goodbye to her 4-year-old son. The story convicted me of my own selfishness these past few months. Listening to this mother’s final moments with her son before cancer took his life, reminded me of how I often complain about the mundane things in life. We often ignore people suffering in our communities, because we are completely engrossed with our own lives. I want to encourage you to read her post below. Don’t skip this story, because it will change your life perspective.  It changed mine.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/13/health/child-cancer-post-trnd/

Me: You’re in a lot of pain aren’t you baby?
Nolan: Yeah.
Me: Poot, this Cancer stuff sucks. You don’t have to fight anymore.
Nolan: I DONT??!! But I will for you Mommy!!
Me: No Poot!! Is that what you have been doing?? Fighting for Mommy??
Nolan: Well DUH!!
Me: Nolan Ray, what is Mommy’s job?
Nolan: To keep me SAFE!
Me: Honey … I can’t do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven.
Nolan: Sooooo I’ll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You’ll come right?
Me: Absolutely!! You can’t get rid of Mommy that easy!!
Nolan: Thank you Mommy!!! I’ll go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!!

For the past few months I have constantly complained. I have complained about the frustration of relocating my family, the expense of moving back overseas, and the medical bills we received recently from Marley’s surgery. But, God spoke to me this morning when I heard this heartbreaking story. Life is full of headaches, heartbreaks, and tragedies, but life is also full of perfect moments that deserve praise. Think about all the wonderful things in our lives that God has provided. Much like Jonah, we complain when things fall apart instead of praising God for providing His provision in the first place. What have we done to deserve anything? This young man’s fight convinced me this morning to think before I complain. I encourage you to pray for this family and find ways to support families being affected by childhood cancer. Finally, I am clinging to my faith that Nolan is in heaven right now playing and waiting on his family to join him, because life will never be fair on this earth.

Jonah 4:5-11