Hello Friend!
I am going to challenge us both a bit today.
Do you have a lot of rules and expectations on how people should behave? Do you find yourself regularly disappointed in people and situations and complaining about it to the nearest person, even if you don’t know them? Are you a grumbler?
I will be honest with you: I hate when I am in that kind of space. I don’t like being around me and I wouldn’t enjoy being around you either! And really, who wants to be around someone who regularly complains?
One of the worst things you can say about me is that I complain too much. Of course, there are things here and there that might not go as planned and I might mention them, occasionally. But if you can honestly say to me “You complain more often than not,” well, that will crush me. I do not want to be that person. Please tell me I don’t do that. But, I need you to be honest with me too. So, please tell me the truth.
Complaining is ugly. And it can make the most beautiful person ugly.
I know I am a person who verbally processes and so the first thing I have a tendency to do is open my mouth, for good and for bad. But if I am not happy about a situation, grumbling and complaining to those around me cannot be my default. I have to find another way to process disappointment.
Once in a while I like to try to disguise my complaining as “making an observation” but is that just semantics? Probably. At best a complaining spirit is a bad habit. At worst, it’s a habit of my heart.
When I am unsatisfied with things I try to ask myself “Where is my heart today?” If I spend time each morning recalling the new mercies I have been granted by my gracious God I think it will become easier to grant grace and mercy to others!
Tell me, how do you process disappointment?
Love,
Liz
prayerpointsbyliz 
I treasure this daily input from you more and more because it makes me think. Lately I’ve been living on “automatic pilot”. Not good. Drifting with a current is great on a lazy afternoon in a pleasant, slow moving river but you don’t end up where you need to go. So. How do I stop myself from being a complainer? I wish I had a sure fire answer, but, I don’t. What has helped beyond all measure is mindfulness, paying attention to the conditions around me and giving praise to the Lord for each and every thing good or detrimental. I have to remind myself that I can’t grow as the person God intends me to be if I don’t enjoy the good things and work to improve those that aren’t. Tall order? You bet, but there is a saying while hiking, its easy to go downhill but the view is from the top. I am a pet parent ( I prefer that term to owner) to a beautiful horse. I have his hooves trimmed every eight weeks to keep them in good shape. The farrier ( correct term for a horseshoer) one day when things weren’t going well that I am in a grumpy mood but I can’t let it last. he asked why not. My reply was to point out the topography around us and said”When God made the universe He didn’t make it flat, there are hills, mountains, valleys. plains, we have to walk through them all. The farrier is a patient,loving person and has the grace to understand when things aren’t what they should be. I am blessed to call Ryan a terrific farrier for my horse and a good friend to me. Last year was profoundly sad for me and he always seemed to understand what that I wasn’t my normal self. Never a comment of judgement that I wasn’t . Several times he had a quiet answer to other people who were quick to judge me, “Chris’s perspective is one of survival, add to her survival or be silent.” He never explained my situation after awhile neither did I. Truthfully I was walking through a dark valley and had to keep going. I try not to say anything I’ll regret but its tough. I keep reminding myself of the scientific words of wisdom, “If you are not part of the solution, then you are the precipitate(the part of a chemical reaction that sinks), So last year I floated , this year I’m back to swimming (part of the solution). Do I watch what I say, think first, I try and ask for the Lord’s guidance through out the day and give Him praise for everything. Liz, one thing that does help me is that I am hearing disabled (hard of hearing), hearing aids only help just so much, so if anyone is getting rude towards me I get to truthfully ask them “Did I hear you correctly? What I think I heard was a loud of manure out of your mouth.” I do change that sentance depending on the person and circumstance but its a great defense mechanism. A good defense is better than a strong offense. PS Last year my beloved hearing assistance dog died, its a lot rougher without him than I thought it would be.
“Drifting with a current is great on a lazy afternoon in a pleasant, slow moving river but you don’t end up where you need to go. “ that is some awesome insight! Also, the word “mindfulness” is one I have pondered a lot recently.
Hi Liz,
I’m catching up on the prayer points today. Being one who is normally on the “non”complaining side, but have 2 family members who are regular complainers, I’m really appreciating your words here.
As for your question, when I am feeling it and need to get out of feeling bad, I most always go to music, Christian music. Casting Crowns’ “Just Be Held” and Ryan Stevenson’s “Eye of the Storm” are 2 that really minister to me. Ryan’s song, I crank it up as loud as I can handle and sing at my loudest too. Music has always been my “go to”. My mother would say she knew what mood I was in by what songs I was playing on the piano – and how they were being played.😉
Lynette
Lynette Burton M 562-447-7676 *”What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul*.” Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV)
On Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 5:53 AM prayerpointsbyliz wrote:
> PrayerPoints by Liz posted: ” Hello Friend! I am going to challenge us > both a bit today. Do you have a lot of rules and expectations on how people > should behave? Do you find yourself regularly disappointed in people and > situations and complaining about it to the nearest pe” >
Hi Lynette! I am going to have to check out those songs! Music is also my “go to”! Thank you for your thoughts!! Blessings on your day! ~ Liz