Next to the crinkling sound of a thin water bottle or witnessing someone being rude, a pet peeve of mine is hearing children (or adults for that matter) whine. It may be the high-pitched voice, or it may be the person’s disposition that makes me wince, but my initial reflex is to do just about anything in my power to ensure the person doesn’t receive what they pine for. So, how in the world, can I justify my actions when my prayer time is spent whining to God about what is missing from my life? It ushers to mind a saying related to pots and kettles!

Although I began conversations about gratitude in posts like Gratitude Gap and Unexpressed Gratitude, it appears that God is a little frustrated that I seem to excel at whining while continuing to be a klutz at gratitude. Therefore, this month, He felt it necessary that the majority of my reading carry the common theme of Whine or Worship. In her book Choosing Gratitude, Nancy DeMoss outlines this idea for us when she shares, “I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine –or– I can worship! And I can’t worship without giving thanks. It just isn’t possible. When we choose the pathway of worship and giving thanks, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, there is a fragrance, a radiance, that issues forth out of our lives to bless the Lord and others.”

If I’m completely honest, when my social media feed cascades engagement, wedding, and baby photos, my initial reaction is not always, as Day and Downs express in It’s Not Your Turn, “to clap when you really want to cry.” Sometimes in the Struggle With Singleness, the tears do come first, and I’m really not satisfied with that reaction, for I know that if I claim Jesus in my heart, there should be no question how to respond– to Whine or Worship. Rather than allowing the “stubborn weeds of ingratitude” to take over my heart, if I choose to clap, sing, and worship instead, then I feel one step closer to, as Demoss states, “cultivating a thankful heart.”

Thankful that there never seems to be another set of hands around the house when you need it? Be grateful for the Missing Milestones that mark transitions from one season of life into another? Appreciative that the only audience to my thoughts are readers of this blog? Yep, Julie, in everyone of those situations, you have an opportunity to choose the mindset to Whine or Worship, because even though your emotions are attempting to control the moment, you know that for each one of the cons to being single, there are just as many pros. So, why does it appear so challenging to embrace “true, Christ-centered, grace-motivated gratitude” that “fits everywhere, even in life’s most desperate moments and difficult situations. Even when there are no ‘answers,’ it gives us hope. It transforms overwhelmed strugglers into triumphant conquerors.”

I’m accepting the challenge that one of the first steps to creating the Habits of a Flourishing Life, begins with embracing a gratitude routine. So, I’m going to try the 30-day challenge provided in Choosing Gratitude and see what happens in my heart. “You can’t control your circumstances, but you can control how you show up to them.” What if it’s not my turn? “What if some seasons are temporary, and we can make ourselves better in the Waiting Room…But what if we commit to the journey anyway? What would happen to who we are as people if we committed to do the work in the dark with no guarantee of light?”

Not only must I choose to Whine or Worship, but I am responsible for guiding Emerging Adults as they navigate the journey of life, and I must practice what I preach! Please feel free to share any wisdom in the comments below.

References:

Day, H.T.,& Downs, A.F. (2021). It’s not your turn: What to do while you’re waiting for your breakthrough. [Kindle version]. IVP Books.

DeMoss, N.L. (2009). Choosing gratitude: Your journey to joy. [Kindle version]. Moody Publishers.