Grumbling

I have never been much of a complainer. Perhaps I have been in my heart but I have never been an open grumbler or an excessive grumbler in my heart. I have prided myself on my optimism and positive personality. I think perhaps I have been around grumbling until now and usually sought to help the grumbler in my life to be positive through prayer and encouragement. However, I think now that my husband does not struggle with complaining I have stepped up as the GRUMBLER in our family. The grumbling or complaining usually is sparked by a discontentment with these things: the size of our apartment, my job, not having a lot of social opportunities, having to cook, having to clean dishes, quiet times, struggling with communication, not feeling purpose, laundry, early mornings, living away from my family and friends, I could go on.

There is complaining throughout the bible, so I take heart. It is not good but I'm not alone in this battle. I think the biggest problem with complaining is it doesn't bring you into a state of repentance.

If any of you struggle with grumbling here are some things for me that just immediately caused me to repent of my grumbling patterns and my feelings of discontent:

1. The movie "The Pianist."
2. A message on the persecution of the church and stories of martyrs
3. The movie "Fireproof"
4. A friend or husband telling you the truth lovingly

I could explain in detail how all of these things immediately took me out of my state of grumbling, but if you think about it or are faced with these opportunities yourself you will see how it helps.