My Big Fat MouthSample

Flip Your Complaints

I don’t know about you, but life can really get to me sometimes! For instance, the long hours at work that blur into the never-ending chores at home. If you show up to our house unannounced, there will be piles of laundry everywhere you look. Finally, it’s time to sleep, but not before washing baby bottles—again. 

You know what I’m talking about. The physical and mental exhaustion keeps coming back. When it does, we get stressed out and overwhelmed, which makes complaining really easy! Still, letting all my frustrations out through mouthy griping and complaining doesn’t help anyone. Just ask my husband. In fact, it nearly always makes me feel worse. So why do I do it? Out of the mouth, the heart speaks, and my heart is selfish! We all have selfish hearts.

So how do we stop it? Here’s one thing that’s helped me to be less selfish. Think of what you complain about. Then, flip it. You’re probably complaining about some of your greatest blessings you never earned in the first place. Next time you want to complain about your job, flip it and thank God for providing for you through it. The bottles I wash every night belong to another gift from God, my baby, whom I absolutely love and adore. My husband, who also gets tired and stressed out, is an amazing dad and my best friend. 

When we look longer at our circumstances to see the true gifts they are, we can flip most anything into praise. Complaining brings discontentment and makes me feel empty. But running to Jesus with both my pain and my praise fills me up every time. And His grace is never-ending, just like the laundry in my living room. 

-Catie, complaint flipper

Pray: Jesus, thank You for every blessing You’ve given me. Help me run to You when I’m feeling worn down. You are my joy and my sustainer. In You I have more than enough. Thank You, again, for Your love and grace! Amen.