The Art of Complaining

I think I have made complaining a new form of art.  It is quite a thing to behold.  I think I could replace the commercial that says "There's an app for that" to "There's a complaint for that".  If the dishes don't magically clean themselves, if my well and able-bodied children don't jump at the opportunity to do their own laundry, if my incredibly witty plans don't match up with the hubby's ideas, and on and on and on goes my list.  I could probably list over a hundred things right now that just don't suit me at the moment and feel pretty justified in doing so.

Most of these things I would never voice out loud, because guess what?  Did I mention that I can't stand people who complain all the time????  I know, right?  Aren't they just the most obnoxious people that you can't wait to get away from???  People that just can't be happy no matter what drive me nuts, but somehow my own complaints which only myself and God can hear are o.k.  with me.  Probably not to God, but sometimes I actually enjoy a good complaining fest.

Every now and then, God puts a stop to my beautiful collage of complaints and he did that for me today.  I woke up with the sore throat and cough that all my other family members have been suffering through for the past month.  I woke up to dishes that didn't magically do themselves over night.  I loaded the dishwasher without a complaint (out loud that is) and went to close the door and the latch wouldn't shut.  I tried again and it wouldn't shut.  This meant that my dishwasher wasn't going to run and my dishes were definitely not going to be magically cleaned!  I put my head against the counter and was ready to have a good old fashioned pity fest.  Then I felt God remind me of the news that I first woke up to.

Every morning my hubby turns on the morning news around 6 am.  The gentle noise gradually brings me out of my sleep.  This morning it was all about the deep freeze that has over taken our area and a good portion of the country. People are dying out in the cold.  I may have a cold and a dishwasher on the fritz, but for goodness sake I have a roof over my head, pipes that haven't burst and a heater that works.

Did you know that all through the book of Exodus and Numbers, God said that he could hear the Children of Israel grumble and complain?  Did you know that it was also pretty obvious that God didn't like it at all?  It goes without saying that God probably doesn't appreciate my complaining any better.  As a matter of fact I probably get on His nerves pretty badly sometimes, but unlike the rest of polite society, He isn't afraid to tell me my artwork stinks!  (Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining or disputing NKJV)

Christmas All the Time

Every year at Christmas time, I have the blessing of being able to give away a lot of things that people need, a lot of food people need, and a lot of money that people need. I have the privilege of being the Pastor's wife of Pottstown Bible Church and during the Christmas season, people come out of the wood work wanting to help/donate to those that are less fortunate than themselves.  Pottstown Bible Church is home to many of Pottstown's more unfortunate people.

It is so much fun to see the surprised look on someone's face when you hand them a gift card out of the blue or to be able to put extra in someone's weekly bag of food because there is extra to give.  To be able to tell someone that we can help get their car repaired, or pay an electric bill.  To see children in need being blessed by toys, books, clothing and coats.  Even a child who lives half way across the state whose mother found us on the internet.  I wish it was Christmas all the time, because these people who get blessed at Christmas have needs all year long.  Poverty doesn't go away because someone has donated at Christmas time.  Poverty is always there.

I didn't always feel that way.  Even after becoming a Christian, I still lived my life in a way where I had no money, no time and no desire to help anyone but myself.  God changed my heart the day Pottstown Bible Church opened.  I am so thankful that God opened my eyes and that I am able to be in a role where I am surrounded by those who are needy.  It reminds me how fortunate I am.  It makes me think twice before I add to my own collection of "stuff" which has no heavenly value.  It helps me to keep my heart and my hands open. It reminds me to be generous all the time, not just at Christmas.

Time to .....

My church is located in the heart of downtown Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  It sounds quaint, doesn't it?  Unfortunately, downtown Pottstown is not really quaint.  Right next to our church is a huge abandoned building.  You can see right through the back wall into the building.  Behind the church is an alley way where two people were stabbed not so long ago.  A block away is one of the biggest drug areas around.  Right across the street is a half way house for people recovering from drug addictions.  The surrounding streets have row homes and apartments filled with people struggling to make ends meet.  There are two senior high rise buildings, home to the elderly and disabled who are on a fixed and very limited income.  And I can't forget about the mentally disabled people.  Some live with care takers, some in group homes, and some should definitely be placed in permanent care facilities.  Finally hiding on the outskirts  of town at night, yet clearly visible in town during the day, are the homeless.  The homeless are made up of people that once fit into any of the previously mentioned categories of people and places.  

I guess this sounds a bit depressing.  This would definitely not go onto a Pottstown Area brochure.   Back to my original thought; my church is right in the heart of all of this.  On any given Sunday, you can find any and all of these kinds of people.  Guess what?  My church is not at all depressing and I have found that these people are beautiful.  I have also found that while money food and clothing are important and can help alleviate some physical needs and immediate problems, sometimes real help comes from the investment of time.  The time to tell someone personally that God loves them and that you love them too.  Time to shake someone's hand or give them a hug.  Time to actually listen and become someone's friend.  In the past nine years Pottstown Bible Church has been in existence, I have had the privilege to make some really neat friends.    Over the next few weeks, I think I am going to try to give snap shots of some of the people of downtown Pottstown.  Some stories are amazing and others are heart wrenching and I think maybe they need to be heard.  More to follow...


If I have piqued your interest donating your time and/or your resources, here is a list of links of ministries and organizations that are helping in Pottstown.

pottstownbible.org (food pantry, weekly Sunday meal, mentoring, worship services)

www.ministriesatmainstreet.org (shelter and other resources)

pottstowncluster.org (food pantry, household items, clothing, organization of community meals)

ttlm.org (back pack/food ministry to children of the Pottstown school district)

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother's birthday.  About sixteen years ago a good friend of mine taught a short seminar about writing a tribute to honor your parents.  I have been thinking about doing this for sixteen years.  I have also been wanting to write for longer than that, so it is fitting that my first blog is a tribute to my Mom.  By the way, did I mention that I am a procrastinator?

For Mom:

I want to thank God for giving me the mother that I have.  She is a mother of two, the first born daughter in a family of six children.  She is beautiful, strong, courageous and fiercely loyal.  

My mother has worked hard every day of her life.  When I was growing up, she once worked three jobs to make sure that my brother and I had a roof over our heads and food on our table.  We didn't have much back then, but we had everything we needed.  She struggled silently, without complaint and mysteriously made every Christmas and birthday an amazing event.

My mother has taught me to be concerned for other people.  Over the years she has allowed others to live in her home, she has taken care of her clients that have no family of their own and she has taken care of her own parents in their waning years of life.  

My mother has taught me to be a strong, independent woman with a mind of her own.  She has also taught me to know when to compromise and how to roll with the punches.  She has had to start over many times in her life and in her career and she has never faltered or shown fear.    She is a woman born far ahead of her time. 

My mother has taught me that love is far more than words.  Actions are everything.  If there is a need, fill it.  If there is work to be done, don't wait for someone else to come along, get it done and for goodness sake do it RIGHT!

Thank you my dear mother for everything that you are and all that you do.  Thank you for your example and your strength.  Thank you for loving me even when I didn't deserve it.  You are the best mother I could have ever asked for.  Happy Birthday!

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