This verse was burned into my mind today during a visit to the hospital. I took Joseph (my adopted Chinese son) to the Shriners Hospital Burns unit to do pre-op for his next round of surgeries on Friday.
While we were waiting for Dr Wong, a little boy wandered across the aisle into our private room. Apparently he was Chinese and apparently he was a boy...for it seemed that he had noticed Joseph, and wanted to take a closer look. I say "apparently" because this little boy was so disfigured from his burns I could barely make out he has human, let alone Chinese!
As soon as he walked up to me I began to weep...even Joseph had to look away. This little boys arms were melted off and his head and neck had been melted into a featureless blob with only holes where a nose, eyes, mouth and ears once were!
He just stood there staring at us...I didn't know what to do or say...but my heart was smashed to pieces. And then Holy Spirit reminded me how often I grumble and complain about the momentary light affiliations in my "perfect" life.
God have mercy on my soul...on all of us who grumble and complain. Lord we cry out to you today for forgiveness but also for a deeper work of your Spirit to be done in us. May we develop an insatiable hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, for Christ's Life to change us more and more into His likeness...humble, content and thankful...in everything!!!