So often we find ourselves griping and complaining about the simplest things. Many times it’s not intended to be ungrateful or offensive but it sometimes comes from unrecognized selfishness and is a regular part of our everyday conversations. When was the last time you’ve have a complete conversation without something negative to say? It rarely happens because we all think we can do portions of things better than others (occasionally true) and we’re selfishly not satisfied with what we’ve been given.
Many of us speak with a negative attitude as a regular part of our vocabulary and it becomes natural after a while. Many of the things we complain about are legitimate things and some of them are necessary to address for educational purposes, consistency purposes, safety purposes, customer satisfaction purposes…etc. What I challenge is to try and eliminate the complaining and negative connotation when it’s not necessary. This will not only make us more pleasant people to be around but our stress levels will probably be reduced as well.
This isn’t meant to sissify situations when addressing a problem is necessary. We may come off as complaining but it’s in the best interest of the person or people receiving it as complaining. I’m talking about more trivial things. For instance this morning I was complaining that I booked myself a 7:30am dentist appointment on a Monday morning. Although a legitimate complaint (if there is such a thing), praise God that I had a bed to wake up in, a vehicle to drive me there, insurance to afford it and a job to be a little late for. Our perspective gets out of line sometimes and it’s like we’re complaining just to hear ourselves talk. It’s silly, it’s unfruitful, it’s selfish and it surely isn’t making anyone else feel better. Maybe we’re complaining out loud so others will learn from our situations if it was about us or agree with us if it’s about someone else. We can try to justify it but it still remains. I recognize that everything isn’t always a warm fluffy situation and people are going to have legitimate gripes but if we eliminate the unnecessary ones from our conversation, we might be perceived as more pleasant people.
We have so many things to be thankful for and we must learn to put things in perspective prior to releasing the tongue to speak so ignorantly. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Sometimes we complain about things we have absolutely no control over, either. What if we used those energies towards encouraging those around us? We should examine our dialogue and our internal monologue. By entertaining positive thoughts, we'll increase the positivity of our speech. And speaking life over people and situations will help bolster our faith and hope.