Complaining

I do not remember when it came up, but the Bible study of high school seniors that I led at camp started talking about complaining.  I challenged them to take the rest of the day and to try to not complain. 

That was at 10:30 a.m.  By dinner at 5:30 p.m., one of them came up to me and confessed, "Tammy, I complained."

I suppose I could have judged him if I myself had not already lost the challenge as well.

Why is it so easy to complain?  It just naturally rolls off my tongue.  And if out of the mouth flows the heart, then what on earth am I doing?

One of my campers noticed that she would say "I'm tired" just to say it.  If she really thought about it, she was not actually tired, but just said it because it was routine to say it.  Hmm.  I am so guilty of that.

During the day-challenge that I gave my campers, I really did try.  I bit my tongue many times, but after awhile, I did give in.  When everyone around me is doing it, it is more fun to join in with my thoughts than to just walk away.  And really, what did all of our complaining accomplish?  Did it make things run smoother?  Did it take away the heat?  Did it make our campers perfect angels? 

Nope.  None of that.  All it did was burden our hearts and make us exhausted.

Which of course we complained about.

I notice it with my own kids, too.  The complaints that I hear from them are straight from our mouths.  Anyone who wants to be humbled by their attitude needs to have a child follow them around for a day.  Apparently, it is true-attitude reflects leadership.

Here is my challenge to you readers-take a day and not complain.  You might be great at it and never notice a difference.  Or, you might be like me and bite your tongue all day.  Either way, it should be interesting.