Words to Treasure: Don't Grumble

Sunday I sat with the kids in my Sunday Night Fuel Cell, the words to treasure for the evening was "Do Not Grumble." I asked the kids to very quickly tell me the 5 things they are most thankful for. As we went around the room this is what was said, " air conditioning, food, video games, tv, family, friends, home." Next I asked them, what if you had home, but no food, electricity, or water, now tell me five things you would be most thankful for. The tones changed considerably, it took them a little more time to think about what they were thankful for. This is what I heard, "I would be thankful for a roof over my head, family and friends, and clothes, and one of them even said the backyard."
I began to explain to them a story. A few years ago, God brought me to home. I was told this family didn't have any food in there house. It was a Grandma and Grandpa raising several of their very young grandchildren. None of them had ever had a Christmas, and when I say there wasn't any food in the house, I mean there wasn't one drop of food in the home. I didn't know what to expect when I walked in, but I picked up a few essentials on my way home to take to this family, such as bread, butter, and milk. When I arrived, I was greeted by several smiling kids, playing like any kid would be. I told them, that I heard they needed food, so I had brought a few things by.
This day is forever burned in my heart. I wasn't prepared for what was about to happen next. I remember the roaches crawling everywhere, and these little kids looked in the sack that I had placed on the table, and very excitedly said, "you brought us bread, AND BUTTER, you mean we get to have toast with butter on it." They were so excited, you would have thought someone had given them a million dollars. I remember the hugs, and the smiles, and the tears in their Grandma's eyes. I never felt more humble in my life. I was fighting the tears, and trying to make note of what else was needed in this home.
I went home that evening, feeling ashamed of myself and who I had become. I don't even really get excited about a new shirt, or pair of shoes, or the big TV that sits in my living room. My cabinets are full of food, my closet is full of clothes, my house is full of furniture, my driveway has 2 cars parked in it, and yet I didn't even have an ounce of the excitement that these kids had over bread and butter. I remember walking in my front door that night, and Matt was sitting in his recliner, and I knelt down at his knees and began to cry.
These kids, were full of joy, yet they had nothing, I had everything, and didn't feel that I expressed 1/4 of the joy that they did. They were so thankful for what they had, I didn't hear one word out of them about what they didn't have.
I asked the kids in my Sunday Group how many times they had gone to their fridge or their cabinet and nothing was there. No one could raise their hands. I asked them how many of them didn't have clothes to wear, and once again no one could raise their hands. I challenged my group, the same way that I am about to challenge you. We all have things that we don't need or maybe we are over abundantly blessed with, what do you have that you can give someone else. How about this, lets not just give away the things we don't want, but give away one pair out of the 8 favorite pairs of pants you have in your closet.
Don't grumble about what you don't have, when someone else may have nothing. Find Joy everyday, no matter what life brings you. There is always something to be thankful for. No matter what your situation may be, God can still use you.