Do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!

WHEN this passage in chapter 5 of the Book of James came up in my list of daily Bible readings, I immediately thought of our two teenage daughters. They had begun grumbling against each other at breakfast.

"Don't make so much noise when you eat!"

"Well, don't take a drink while you're still chewing! You know I can't stand that!"

They went on criticizing each other until they finally left for school. Surely this verse was meant for them! I decided to read it to them that night at supper.

As I read it a second time, though, I realized this passage had much to say to me. My husband Keith and I had been laying a new floor in our living area/kitchen. We had never done anything like this before, and the project was taking far longer than we had planned. He wanted to work late; I wanted to start early. Our patience with the floor and with each other had worn thin. I had been grumbling, and I felt the Judge was standing at my door. Then and there I prayed for forgiveness. Then I went to find Keith. Rather than grumble in anger and frustration, I wanted to talk with him in love and care.

Mary van Rheenen (Gelderland, The Netherlands)