by Pastor Leo Launio
Last month, my son and I were on our way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to attend the Pathfinder Camporee. Along the way, we stopped at a McDonald restaurant to buy breakfast – two hotcake meals with hash browns. When our food was delivered, the lady delivered only one hotcake meal. But instead of complaining, my son and I decided to just share what was given to us.
Just as we were about to begin eating our food, the same lady came back to our table and brought two more hotcake meals with hash browns and drinks. I asked her why she is giving us three hotcake meals when we ordered only two. She said, “You get one more meal for not complaining.”
Yesterday, I was at a Home Depot. I was the only one in line at the cash register. But as soon as I finished putting my lone item at the cash register’s table, a lady jumped in front of me. The cashier served her first and in few minutes she was done.
The cashier scanned my purchase, and then I noticed that the price was slashed to 50%. I was baffled. But before I could ask, the cashier said, “I am giving you a 50% discount for not complaining when the lady jumped in front of you.”
We live in a world where everyone is expected to complain, argue, or say something about anything as if it is an inherent right. Consequently, we complain when we receive poor service at a restaurant, we get mad when someone jumps the line, we ridicule when someone don’t follow our admonition, or blame someone else when we don’t do well in life. We even lambaste institutions when our lifestyles are not honored and accepted by the society.
In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul reminds us to “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.”
In my experience, there are blessings when we hold our peace.
