Posted in Encouragement - 2

This is one of Laine's Letters and it was too good not to share.  (I did get permission first).  Her website and subscription information is at the end.  Enjoy! 

"Do everything without complaining or arguing."  Philippians 2:14 

How I hear these Words in my mind over and over, especially when I want to do one or the other. Mostly the complaining part. So within the last year I have had this imaginary conversation with a woman from the mid 1800's; and when I am tempted to complain, rather than to thank God for His many goodnesses, I say this silently to her in her era: 

How can I complain when I can hold the whole counsel of God in my hands and read it any time I want? 

How can I complain when I can go to the sink and hot and cold water pours out for me at the flick of my wrist? 

How can I complain when at the push of a button I can have instant heat on my stove? 

How can I complain when it takes me minutes to load my washer and at the push of a button all the work is done for me?

How can I complain when I can get into my car and be at a market within 15 minutes? 

How can I complain when I can have hot or cold air piped into my car while driving? 

How can I complain when I can listen to the most beautiful music while driving? 

How can I complain when I can see the doctor or the dentist on the same day I am suffering?

How can I complain when I can write a letter and send it to be received on the same day I sent it? 

How can I complain when the shelves are so full of good things at my supermarket? 

How can I complain when I can use double coupons to take off more than half of the price of an item? 

How can I complain when I can buy clothes cheaper than the cost of just the thread at garage sales and thrift shops? 

How can I complain when I can turn on this machine called a vacuum and it sucks up all the dirt for me in my house? 

How can I complain when I can turn my oven on and have a fresh cake in thirty minutes using a mixer first to mix it? 

How can I complain when I can sleep in front of a fan in the hottest time of summer? 

How can I complain when I can go to the air conditioned library in the summer and use their computers for free? 

How can I complain when I can talk to my mother in another state on a moment's notice over a hands free phone? 

How can I complain when all my trash is picked up every week by this huge truck? 

How can I complain when I can soak away my aches and pains in hot water piped right into my tub? 

How can I complain when I don't have to use an outhouse, rather a lovely bathroom right inside my home? 

How can I complain when I have this big above ground pool right in my backyard to jump into when it is so hot? 

How can I complain when with the flick of a switch I can listen to Christian music on my radio while cleaning? 

How can I complain when I have a closet full of clothes for my whole family? 

How can I complain when I can turn on my t.v. and learn a whole new recipe from a celebrated chef for free? 

How can I complain when I can go "shopping" from my freezer? 

How can I complain when I can buy canned food for my winter pantry already canned for me? 

How can I complain when I can lay fully back in my chaise lounge chair on a heating pad when I am ill? 

How can I complain when I want to go to a concert that I can listen to it right in my kitchen on a CD? 

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can light up a whole room? 

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch my bread machine starts mixing my ingredients for me? 

How can I complain when I can go to the library and obtain any book, CD, magazine, or recipe I want? 

How can I complain when I can open a door and all kinds of foods are kept cold for me in my fridge? 

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can blend a wonderful drink or batter? 

How can I complain when at the flick of another switch my iron is hot and ready to smooth out the wrinkles before church? 

How can I complain when I can add numerous long numbers accurately with a calculator I bought for a dollar? 

How can I complain when I need glasses now to read when I bought them for a dollar at the Dollar Store? 

How can I complain when I have so many competitive stores to shop from? 

How can I complain when I just turn on a hose to water my plants? 

How can I complain when there are so many beautiful parks to behold? 

How can I complain when the roads are so smooth and easily traveled? 

How can I complain when I can fly anywhere at a moment's notice if need be on an airplane. 

How can I complain when there are shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, and cleansers of all kind to clean, clean, clean? 

How can I complain when I can flick a switch and a crockpot slowly cooks my food all day while I am away? 

How can I complain when I can warm our bed before we get into it with the softest electric blanket? 

How can I complain when my family is far away who I can talk to on a cell phone? 

How can I complain when not having a vacation because I've got one whole day a week to enjoy? 

How can I complain? 

How can I possibly complain? 

"For if a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness...I say that a stillborn child is better than he...though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, even if he lives a thousand years twice - but has not seen goodness." Eccl. 6:3-6 

How can I complain when every day is such Sweet Sabbath Rest with Him? 

Love,

Laine 

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Laine's official website:  http://www.lainesletters.com

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