From Complaining to Gratitude: Transforming Our Words

I want to wrap up this discussion surrounding what comes out of our mouths with the idea of complaining. I’m guilty as charged and no matter how much I try to stop it, I still fail. Good news is God has been working on me and he’s given me an “out” and I’m getting better. Let me elaborate on what I mean. We all know the saying, “I’d complain, but nobody wants to hear it.” We all get it and we agree in theory. Who wants to hear somebody else’s boring litany of frustrations and failures? I mean for real! Conversational buzzkill. So why do we keep doing it?I know why I complain. It helps me blame other things or other people for the breakdowns in my life (of course, they aren’t my fault right). Complaining makes me look like a victim instead of a perp. Complaining lets me off the hook for responsibility for failure. Complaining helps me explain away my shortcomings because there must be a conspiracy to keep me down. Any of this sound familiar? Don’t lie...Complaining is trash talk. Our God spoils us with gifts and opportunities. Here’s a better way to respond to that generosity.A thankful heart and thankful talk are learned behaviors. They need to be cultivated. If you are ready for some gratitude therapy, here is your pretty legit way to do it. Get a notebook. Keep it where you sit when you’re watching the Braves game at home or going through your social media sites. Each day for two weeks write down good things that God sent into your life that day and thank him out loud specifically and from the heart for each one.It will change your life.Be Nice. Grace Wins.