Contentment Part Two: No Complaining!

Avalon, 2, saying "I just LOVE torn bread!" (corn bread)  It's the little things...

God first spoke to me about complaining about five years ago during the holidays.  We were living in the same town as my husband's family and I wanted to do the "daughter in law thing" by inviting his mom over for Thanksgiving dinner.  What I didn't realize was that his entire family usually gets together for holiday dinners, so his mom invited everyone else to come too!  My imagined intimate dinner at the dining room table with his mom and her husband, turned into a group of 20 seated in a circle around my living room with their plates on their laps.

I'm not sure how everyone else remembers that day, but I remember it being a horrible experience.  The biggest contributor to my horrible experience was my horrible attitude.  That's when God led me to this verse, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." ~ 1 Peter 4:9.  How much better of a day would that have been for my husband, had I welcomed his dear family into our home with a smile and a joyful heart?

*Murmuring/Complaining: a negative, grumpy dissatisfaction with things

Philippians 2:14-16:  "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..."

Since this is the second time I've written about Contentment in the last 24 hours, you may be getting the impression that God is dealing with me on this.  You would be correct!

Lately, I've found myself caught up in such a negative and complaining spirit.  I really can't put my finger on any one thing that's causing this---but I do know it has to stop!!

The best way that I've found to combat a negative and complaining spirit is to adopt a heart of thankfulness!

1 Chronicles 16:8:  "Oh, give thanks to the Lord!  Call upon his name;  make known His deeds among the peoples!"

Not only should we give thanks to God in our hearts, but we should praise Him in our conversation as well!

A lot of times, we look back on a situation that seemed so worthy of complaint in the heat of the moment, but after we've calmed down, we realize that it really wasn't that big of a deal.  That kind of a situation can prove to be pretty embarrassing once we realize how many people saw our childish blow up!

It's in these times of humility that we can reflect on the same truth that Jacob did in Genesis 32:10:  "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant."

When I stop to think of the grace God is showing me by even allowing me to live and serve him, I realize how ungrateful and petty my complaints seem!

My husband just left for work and I told him it was going to be a good day.  My challenge to myself and to my readers is to go through this day without grumbling!  I don't know if I can go a whole day, as bad as I've been lately, but I have some Scripture now that I can use to combat that negativity---It's going to be a good day!

Did you miss Part One in this new series on Contentment?  Check it out and be blessed!

Linking with: 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home 
Faith Talking Tuesdays @ AudraSilva.com 
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner 
Also published in Issue #60 of The Christian Home magazine.