Check your complaints at the door

As I ponder a sunday school lesson tonight I find myself in Philippians 2:14-16. It reads...

• "14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." (NLT)

Today, I found myself here again, complaining! Don't people that complain just get on your nerves? Madi is playing soccer this fall and today was her first practice. As a dad, I thought things could have gone differently. In the car ride home I found myself in the category of a complainer... ugh, I hate it! (Did I just complain again?) There is a pastor in Illinois that challenged his people to go complaint free for 21 days. 21 days! Can I go 21 hours w/o complaining?!? The Apostle Paul tells us to do it ALL without complaining. Here's why, so that I may shine bright in a world of darkness (Phil 2:15). I know I don't want to be around people who are complainers. Do you think "the world" feels any different? We want those in darkness to want to be around us. In the eyes of the world, do you taste salty or bitter. I know this, I want to check my complaints at the door so that people without Christ can look and see the difference He's made in my life.