Grumble, Grumble, Growl

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5b

 

Living in an inter-generational household has its challenges.

I was cleaning up the kitchen the other day and as I finished doing the dishes I turned and from the corner of my eye I could see a mess on the counter.

My immediate reaction, as I turned back to the sink to get a cloth to wipe it up, was to grumble in my own heart about how I am the only one who “ever” cleans up the counter ! (Does anyone else do this?)

As I wiped up the mess, I could see it was the crushed walnuts from the bottom of a bag I had just had out. The mess was mine. Sigh.

How often in life have I grumbled (and growled) in my heart about someone else or a set of circumstances that have resulted because of a mess I have made, all by myself?!

A mess of words. A mess of a relationship. A mess of a ministry opportunity. A mess of bad discipline. A mess of silence when I should have said something.

I have made a lot of messes that I would like to think were someone else’s fault.

A good friend points out that when I accusingly point a finger at someone else there are three fingers pointing back at me.  Apparently, God is not surprised by the blame game we like to play. He has given us instruction to consider:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5

This time it was just a speck of walnuts. Other times I have had full-grown logs in my eye. This time I did not blame anyone – out loud – for the mess before the Lord showed me it was my own. Next time? I am not so sure.

I see my pride in immediately assuming the mess belonged to someone else. Even if it had, would I have to grumble about it? My family serves me in so many ways.

Is there a situation in your own life that you need to examine the role you have played in creating the mess before trying to approach someone else?  It is an act of humility to acknowledge our guilt and take responsibility for our own actions.

Sometimes, it is an act of love to just clean up the mess and fight the urge to grumble and growl.