Complaining

My phone was ringing as I was saddling up Daisy, my horse. I checked it and noticed a familiar area code, making me immediately stop what I was doing. My dad’s assisted living residence. The nurse was letting me know that everything was good with my dad. No emergencies. She was reporting my dad’s improvements. Improvements? 96 years old and improving! Wow!

Just two years ago, my dad broke his hip and had a tough, long recovery. Yet, in these last two years, he’s made considerable progress and doing as well as expected for 96. To hear that he might be upgraded in a key area was music to my ears. The nurse went on to tell me how Angus is one of the staff’s favorites. The nurse reported that he never complains, has a great sense of humor, and has a bit of fun with the staff.

Things are far from perfect with my dad. He’s in a wheelchair and forgets a lot of things. Yet, he’s learned to make the most of it and treat those who serve him with respect. My dad was a son of a Wyoming rancher. His mom, a suffragette, had homesteaded from Ohio to Wyoming after college to teach school. He was the oldest of 4 children. I think he really did walk (or ride a horse) several miles to school in the blowing cold snow. He is a World War II veteran, serving in the Navy in Southeast Asia and Europe, and was recently honored. Meals at the Assisted Living are called “going down to chow hall.” He eats puree food but marvels at how good the food is there! (insert my own potential complaint!) I think over the course of his life, he learned the value of making the most of what he had.

How do you and I make the most of our challenges? Nothing is perfect with us either. We may not be in a wheelchair or forgetting things, but we have circumstances in our life that are significantly challenging. We can either complain about these things or we can figure out how to make the most of things as my dad has.

Whining and complaining come naturally to most of us, whether you’re 30 or 96. When we’re disgruntled about something, we can let loose without thinking twice. Have you ever listened to yourself complain? I have. Not happy with myself when I do!

Paul in the Bible knew about this issue of complaining. Paul was encouraging the Philippians to stand strong amidst the external conflicts they were facing. It would have been easy for the Philippians to get caught up in grumbling. Paul was teaching them literally to stand strong against those struggles, one of which was complaining. Philippians 2:14 says “Do everything without complaining and arguing.”

Paul is writing this letter in prison! He had plenty of things to complain about! Paul was harassed wherever he went and had enemies hunting him down. In the book of Philippians, you can see how he focused on living free from discontentment and grumbling. He challenged others to do the same.

There are times when life seems so unfair. We didn’t expect this or that to happen. Yet, despite ___________________, (the thing that makes life hard for you) God is still good. He longs to transform our grumbly, disgruntled hearts and give us a spirit of gratitude. God helps us recognize when our negative thoughts take over and help us control them as we seek Him for help.

I’m thankful for the nurse’s call today. I was so proud of my dad! It was also a good reminder to me to look at my own life. Am I whining or complaining? I want to have a grateful, non-complaining heart, even in the hard seasons of life. 

I want to have a grateful heart, don't you? Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2goMABFPc

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.