no cause for complaint

i have to admit that i don't always make the most of the opportunities that come my way...but a few weeks ago, i couldn't pass up the opportunity to engage in a discussion on the state of our flowerbeds surrounding the church. being an aspiring perennial gardener i, like the woman who stopped me, had also noticed that many of our plants were wildly taking over and many of them hadn't been properly cared for...

what happened next made my busy world stand still, and has been on my mind ever since: the woman who had stopped me quickly offered to dedicate her days off--until the job was finished--to coming in and working in the church's flowerbeds. early the next day she arrived at the church, with tools and work clothes, and began the daunting task of cleaning up a few months worth of neglect...and what a difference it made! over the next several weeks she called another church member, and another, and gathered new hostas and other perennials for the bare spots. she even purchased a few needed flats "for fill." she saw a practical need, shared her concern, and started working.

the whole situation was really convicting--being quick to complain and quick to be critical is such a fleshly response and when i'm not being careful and submissive to the prods of the Holy Spirit, these bad habits come quite naturally and do absolutely nothing to create change or solve the problem. "do all things without grumbling or complaining" (phil 4:12+), comes to mind. but through the power of the Holy Spirit, shouldn't we instead strive to replace the bad habit of a critical spirit with a joyful and pure effort to serve where we see need?