The third quarter is the longest stretch we have in school. January and February seem like a whole year in themselves. We’re cooped up inside for months and spring break feels like an eternity away. This can lead to some tough mental struggles. The easiest is grumbling.
I know grumbling is wrong. My parents have quoted Philippians 2:14 to us on long car rides as kids. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” It was a failed attempt to us from fighting with my sister.
I know it’s wrong so I disguise it in my mind. I say I’m venting or just talking through a problem. I’m noticing that it’s easier for me to focus on the negative traits of my students now than a few months ago. My coworkers are no exception to the either. It’s easy for me to notice the smallest thing that I don’t like. In fact, no one is excused from this bad habit of mine. Wife, kids, friends, pets, fellow shoppers, waiters…anyone can fall victim to my grumbling.
Philippians warns me that I’m the real victim of my grumbling.
As I build a pattern of complaining, my mind digs ruts where my thoughts get stuck. Those ruts start changing the way I see things. The negative stuff jumps off the page. I start to get more cynical. I stop trusting people. I get more isolated.
All breeding ground for the enemy.
To fight this, I’m forcing myself to be more grateful. I need to encourage more. This is how I’m going to fill in those toxic ruts that consume my mind.
This morning, our staff wrote encouraging letters to each other. I want them to know all the good I see in them and how they push me closer to Christ. I also want to remind myself of those things. Our ministry hinges on our unity and our unity hinges on the way we see each other.
I want my wife and kids to know that I see all the good that is in them, maybe even more then they see in themselves.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”
Philippians 2:14-16
