I am at that stage in life where I am finding it much more difficult to tolerate certain things. I find myself getting more and more vocal about things that disturb me. My constant prayer is that I would guard my words and remember that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.
But I find it more and more frustrating that I am around so many people who grumble and complain.
I know that I tend to be one who finds the glass half full vs. half empty. I know I am a morning person and tend to hit the day with expectancy vs. dread. And reading that looks pretty prideful.
We recently had a new restaurant open in Whiting, and that’s a major event. We needed this in our community. Opening day was crazy as the line went out the door of the restaurant and down the block.
The staff was trying to do their best to keep up with the people. They were learning new procedures, the cash register wasn’t working right, the phone was ringing off the hook – but they were really trying their best.
The old geezer (sorry!) in front of me was cussing and fussing about how stupid the help was. He was going off at how he could run the restaurant better than these “retarded” people. By the way, he looked about 90, had a cane, and was pretty feeble.
He started in again on his rant, and in a weak moment, I said, “They are doing their best, man, and looking at you, can you really do much better? Cut them a break.” Well, I was definitely in the flesh, and his response was quite graphic.
This week I read a convicting list of questions from Paul David Tripp’s devotional, New Morning Mercies:
What is my default language?
Do I find it easier to complain than to give thanks?
Is grumbling the ambient noise of my existence?
Am I easily irritated and quickly impatient?
Do mundane things get under my skin?
Would the people nearest to me characterize me as a thankful person or a complaining person?
Do I look at my world and find myself blown away at the many reasons I have to give thanks?
Do I see myself as one who has been showered with blessings?
Am I humbled by the myriad things in my life that I regularly enjoy but that I could never argue that I deserve?
How often do I whisper thanks to God or communicate thanks to those around me?
Well, that list of questions was very convicting for me. But here was Tripp’s zinger was even more eye-opening:
The universe doesn’t operate to satisfy your desires. It is a dark and discouraging way to live. If you place yourself in the center of your world, if you have reduced your active field of concern down to the small confines of your wants, your needs, and your feelings, if it is really all about you, then you will live with an entitled, “I deserve ______” attitude, and because you do, you will have a constant reason to complain!”
Ouch. So the convicting question for me this week is this: Am I going to be a complainer or a man who is grateful and filled with thankfulness?
I am purposing in my heart to stop complaining and grumbling and to fill my mind, heart, and lips with gratitude and thankfulness. Will you pray for me? And I will pray for you as well.
PS – If your life and mind have been characterized as a grumbler and complainer, and all of a sudden people hear us praising, giving thanks, and complimenting – they are going to notice and ask “What has happened to Bill?” Not a bad thing, right?
Written by Bill Welte: President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
