On a recent flight, I was seated behind two small children who were not happy about being on a plane. Their cries of complaint filled the cabin.

Just before takeoff, a flight attendant stopped next to them and said with a big smile, "What is all this squawking up here?" After charming the fussy 3-year-old and his younger sister for a few minutes, the flight attendant bent down and whispered very seriously, "I must remind you, this is a nonsquawking flight."

The little ones became unbelievably quiet. That made everyone feel better. It's a long journey when you have to sit in the squawking section.

I'm sure God would like to remind me every morning that He wants this day to be a nonsquawking flight. Philippians 2:14 says to "do all things without complaining and disputing." While my natural tendency is to complain, God has another approach in mind-- one that lets His light shine through me and encourages others (v.15).

If we went through each day without complaining, how would it affect our family and friends? What about our ability to share the Word of life with others? (vv.15-16).

Squawking or nonsquawking? The choice is ours.  — David C. McCasland