Tougher If There Wasn't Any!

Remember when you were a kid and you would whine and complain about something?  Well, my mom didn’t like whining and her normal response was, “If you don’t stop that whining I’ll give you something to REALLY whine about!”  One night at dinner we were having some kind of meat concoction that I didn’t like, so I spit the meat out on the plate and with a whiny, sarcastic tone I very emphatically told my mom that “this meat is too TOUGH!”  My mom’s response shocked me.  She stood up, turned to me and took away my dinner plate.  As she was doing that, she said to me, “Well, Carol Ann, tougher if there wasn’t any!  You are excused from the table!  Go to your room…now!”  My mom didn’t tolerate whining or acting up at the dinner table.  Rather than being grateful for the meal that my mother had made, I decided to complain and whine.  I was  like the Israelites who complained to God about the manna they received. 

Pastor Steve’s sermon this week reminded me of that childhood experience I had many years ago.  The Israelites were a lot like us – complainers and whiners.  Remember what they said this week in The Story: “We want meat!!”  They complained and expressed their discontent at the manna they had been given.  Just like they forgot all that God had done for them in the past, we forget all that our Heavenly Father has done for us too.  We focus on US.  We set our own priorities and when things don’t work out we get mad at God.  We complain and even blame Him sometimes.  Funny thing is, most of the time we have never even consulted Him before we made the decision in the first place.  We usually move ahead and then ask God to bless our decision. 

I’m glad that our Heavenly Father, never gives up on us.  I’m also glad that despite my whiny attitude some days, God continues to shower me with His grace, love and mercy even when I deserve to have my dinner plate taken away. 

Listen to Celine Dion’s song “Come to Me.”  It’s a song about the relationship between parents and children.  When you hear the words to this song, remember that your Father in Heaven also invites you to come to Him whenever you need Him.  He is a loving parent whose heart is always open and waiting to hear from you.

Pax,

Pastor Carol