Quit Yer Whinin'

I have this co-worker Bethany, who I love. She reminds me a lot of my dear friend from home, Cara. Both of them get these crazy ideas in which they somehow manage to convince others to participate. In high school, for example, Cara would get it in her head at 10:30 pm that we needed to do ______________ (fill in the blank with random craft project). Picture us 30 minutes later driving around to every Wal-Mart in West County until we found one that was open and had whatever supplies we needed.

So anyway, a couple weeks ago Bethany appeared, snapped a purple rubber bracelet on my wrist, and announced to me (and some others here in the office) that we were participating in a no-complaining campaign. The point, she explained, was to wear the bracelet on the same wrist for 21 straight days. The catch? You must change the bracelet to the other wrist any time you complain or speak in anger to another person.

I'm sure my first response was to roll my eyes. I'll admit I am sometimes quite skeptical about these grand plans of self-betterment that people have, and usually express them well wishes while in the back of my mind being certain of their inevitable failure.

And how awful is that? I'm ashamed that I think those things - what does it show but a disbelief in God's ability to work in other people's lives?

The more I thought about it, the more I was convicted that maybe it wasn't such a goofy idea after all. I took a trip over to my favorite Bible website, www.biblegateway.com, and looked up the word "complain." It pulled up several verses, including the following:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16

Wow... does he really say to do EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing?!! Like, everything everything? Like put my shoes away when my husband asks me for the 900th time? Like not shout tame profanities at the driver who cut me off? Like try not to rant to my friends about this or that going wrong in my life?

I don't think this means we have to be fake-happy when we aren't. As believers we should be able to mourn and weep with each other and discuss and disagree bring all our woes and troubles to lay down before Christ. But this verse indicates to me that there is a way to do that without all the negativity that we are all-to-quick to pour out on the nearest listening ear. I can tell my friends about a rough day at work without it turning into a pity party. I can serve my husband and build up our relationship by being gracious and kind as opposed to defensive or nagging.

Anyway, the point is, except for the days when I forget to put it on, I'm wearing the silly purple bracelet, and trying to be more aware of my complaining. And especially after reading that verse... I want to be one of those pure and blameless children of God in what is indeed a "crooked and depraved generation."