“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Whining! Again!
At my post-op appointment, my surgeon’s assistant asked about my new knee. I started whining while going through a list of complaints, most based on a theme of achiness and stiffness.
Mark made a few notes and then looked up and said, “Yep, knees are hard.” He proceeded to check the knee’s alignment and range of motion. At the last bend, he pronounced, “The knee looks great!”
“So I’ve got to quit whining?”
“Yep, you’ve really got to quit whining.”
Even after surgery, I was whining, looking for reasons to check out: it aches, it’s stiff.
Later that day I saw a Facebook meme that said,
“There’s something in you that the world needs.”
Our Unique Place in God’s World
I’ve written two books in which I talk about God placing us where we need to be.
Each of us has a unique and blessed place in this world, doing what only we can do in unique and blessed relationships at unique and blessed times.
Yet I still catch myself whining, looking for the exit, a way out, a reason not to be. I still get anxious.
God needs us to be who He created us to be. But God doesn’t just throw out the expectations and hope for an Academy Award winning performance, fearing a box office flop, fearful of the whining!
Paul reminds us that God is at work in our lives enabling us to shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:15b), not the Hollywood icons, but His beautiful creations shining brightly in the darkest night.
Heavenly Father,
We rejoice in this new day in which to be a shining light in your glorious creation.
Bless us as we become the person You need us to be.
Share with us that peace that surpasses all understanding.
Help us to focus on whatever is true, noble, right and pure,
whatever is lovely and admirable, whatever is excellent and praiseworthy.
And not whine! To You be the glory! Amen.
Deanna is the author of two books, Fruit of My Spirit and Signs in Life. Whining not included.
