The Ideal Complaint Box

Today’s message was written by guest pastor, Rev. Eric Wogen.

For many years, my mother had a poster on her refrigerator door that never failed to catch my eye. Its message was simple and never grew old. That message retained its relevance regardless of changing circumstances. It caused you to stop and reflect upon how you related to and treated others. On that provocative poster were the following words :

                                Write all complaints in the box below.

The “ complaint “ box, located at the bottom border of the poster was, at best, no more than half an inch square. 

Get the picture. The space for writing your complaints was extremely limited. In fact, it was nearly non-existent. Complaining and griping may come far too easily for many of us. We can be quick to spot what’s wrong with others but slow to see our own issues. Jesus talked about the dangers of judging others. He advised that we should be more concerned about the log in our eye than the speck in someone else’s. Excellent counsel.

How different this world would be if our complaints were replaced with expressions of affirmation and support. Building up rather than tearing down is what God would have us be about. 

You may recall the old Army ad that suggested “Be all you can be .” To each of us, I offer this amended version of that admonition: “ Be all God created you to be – his ambassadors of love, care, and concern.”

Let us pray: Loving God, with thankful hearts we face each new day knowing we are yours. What a privilege it is to be claimed by you, called to serve you and those around us. Remind us always that we have been blessed to be a blessing. Help us to be all we can be as we reach out to your world with expressions of support and kindness that lighten the load others carry and enable them to be all they can be. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.