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My worst parenting moment yet...

There are some conversations I anticipated having when we adopted our 12year old from Haiti.

Be thankful for what you have is not one.

She’s 12. She grew up 9 years in an orphanage in a 4th world country. Now she’s in her own room, in her house, in America. She literally just went from nothing to everything...

Its not hard to imagine how she ought to be the most thankful person in the world.

And honestly she IS super thankful, but she’s still a kid so every once in a while she’ll complain about something. I usually try not to say what I’m thinking but one time it slipped and I said...

“How could you complain about those jeans when 5 months ago you had no jeans?”

I desperately wanted to retract but it was too late. I could see the instant shame on her face.

Man! if there was a parenting moment I could take back, it would be that. I not only shamed my daughter but I felt like a complete hypocrite.

The words had barely left my mouth when I felt like God said to me...

“Sammy, as true as that is, how much more true is it with you and I? If someone saw all I’ve done for you, wouldn’t they think you should be the most thankful person in the world? You’re 30. You grew up 18 years in Africa. You literally went from nothing to everything. And then there is the cross, forgiveness, grace and the whole I died for you while you were a sinner thing and yet I never shame you like that when u complain.”

In other words, Its not hard to imagine how I ought to be the most thankful person in the world.

And the truth is, the 'case' I have built against bebe to not complain so much based on her past is not any less true for me...

Or you.

Philippians 2:14

“do everything without complaining or arguing”.

I always wondered how Paul could say that but now i get it. If we saw how much we’ve been redeemed from, we’d have little to no room to complain.

I’m an immigrant from a 3rd world country with an incredible family, job and a God who loves me no matter what I do. I shouldn’t have much to complain about.

What about you?

What has God done for you? What case can built against you complaining?