No more whining complaining for me…today 🙂
Today I was tempted. I fought the urge, but it was a very strong inclination. I was enticed (by my own self) to do something I call “whining complaining.” I know it’s not grammatically correct, but its what I call my murmuring and grumbling.
For instance, if I’m driving and something annoys me (usually another driver), I’ll think “No whining complaining today, Teri.” I guess this word combo of words is how I check myself in my head.
Well, this morning, I needed to check myself because I wanted to do some “whining complaining” for real.
Here’s where it started: I was ready to get out of bed to rehearse to God (i.e. whining complaining) what’s up with a difficult situation in my life.
I hoped that God would give me just the word of encouragement I needed and a fresh dose of peace as I prayed.
Then, I heard the quick pitter-pats of my three-year-old as he mysteriously appeared at the foot of the bed.
His fluffy white “blanky” clutched tightly in his little hands, he hopped into the bed and positioned himself between my husband.
“Prayer time not happening” I thought to myself.
“No way I can pray now” I continued to grumble to myself. Yeah, I was a little whiny.
Seemed I couldn’t even get an early-morning moment to myself. [insert sad violin music here]
I know a lot of mommies feel that way. I can’t be the only one.
When my pity party ended…
Then, I turned on the television to see what I could find for my kiddo to watch while I prepared breakfast.
My channel defaulted to a news station.
My heart instantly sunk into my chest as I watched the heart-wrenching turmoil, pain, and devastation people of Haiti were enduring. OMG!!!!!
The wails, the chaos, and the destruction made me so desperately sad for them and… deeply ashamed of myself.
You see, this morning I was determined to whine about something so petty and frivolous.
I wasn’t going to tell anyone but my Lord, but it was “whiny” just the same.
Then, it all changed in an instant.
Me whining complaining…
Before I could even craft the words to my whiny, morning prayer, I caught a glimpse of real trouble and genuine pain. Suddenly, my discomfort was in proper perspective. It didn’t seem so important at all really. Thinking back, it was not important st all.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one…”
Let’s re-cap.
After all, I woke up in my warm, beautiful home this morning.
I, then, rose from my cozy bed using my own strength. No one had to lift me from it.
Grateful I could take a deep inhale with no help from a machine or anything.
Not to mention, I slept rather well because no one telephoned me in the night to advise me a loved one had passed away or fallen victim to an attack. Oh, how blessed I am!
Praise you Jesus.
I saw my husband arise and go downstairs to seek the Lord in the morning hours. That’s a blessing– a man that wants to know God and live by His standards. What was I going to complain about again?
To say nothing of the fact my three-year-old is totally healthy, totally thriving is blessed with two Christian, loving and hard-working parents –another blessing easy to overlook. God is so good.
Counting my blessings could never be complete without considering my oldest. He’s strong in integrity and is living for Christ by his own volition.
He’s in college. Not all moms can say that of their sons. He’s “feeling” his way through the fresh throngs of adulthood with integrity and determination. Wow! What a faithful God! No complaining here!
I could go on and on about the blessing of having a television or to be able to see a television with healthy eyes, etc.
But… I won’t. You get my point.
I will say, however, “praise God” for our Savior.
A Savior that can reach down from heaven and heal the hurting – anyone hurting.
He can bring restoration to those who have lost everything (like the people of Haiti) and make new beginnings for all the wounded.
Hallelujah to a God – a Father – that invites us all to approach his throne of grace with confidence, so we may find mercy to help us in your time of need.
Whether our problem is big or small, He’s a God close by and not afar off.
No need to complain, Girl!
No more inner complaining for me- only praise to God that makes all things possible and fresh prayers for the people of Haiti.
Here are a few anti – pity party scriptures to remind you (and I) to live a life of thankfulness!
Psalm 107: 1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
1 Corinthians 15:57
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
