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Monday, 15 December 2008 08:45 |
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We've all have moments in our lives where we've just wanted to complain. Perhaps we had poor service in a restaurant, been shoved aside by a hostile holiday shopper, or been cut off by cell-phone holding driver who is apparently late for a fire. Whatever the cause, we all have that urge to complain. Now, omplaining is not critiquing. Critiquing is a positive exercise which is done for the well-being of both the person being critiqued and the one doing the critiquing. Complaining, on the other hand, has no such noble goal - complaining is about the desire to prove to ourselves, and others, that we are better than "those people." Complaining eats away at our soul, and leads us towards bitterness and anger.
Have you noticed that you meet a lot of complainers during the "holiday season?"
Learning Thankfulness
The best way to overcome the spirit of complaining is to allow God to remind us of all that we are thankful for in this life. To that end, try practicing this discipline over this last week of Advent (and beyond if you so desire):
- Whenever you have the desire to complain about something that you are dealing with over the course of your day, take a moment and let God know your frustrations.
- Then, rather than simply "venting," ask the Lord to make you aware of three things that you've dealt with during the day for which you can be thankful. As the Lord reveals these things to you, name them and say, "Thank you Lord, for what you have done."
- Finally, offer a pray for the person or situation that lead you to complain in the first place. Ask the Lord to replace anger, stress, and selfishness with love and grace.
I hope you enjoy that transformation that expressing thankfulness has on your heart and mind!
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Last Updated on Monday, 15 December 2008 08:51 |