Complaint Department

So, my far-away, never-met-in-real-life, she-is-like-a-therapist-AND-a-best-friend-all-at-the-same-time, convinced-she-was-separated-from-my-husband-at-birth, bestie, MANDY, and I have been having some funny, laugh out loud conversations lately. (It is a great thing to laugh out loud in an empty house...Bailey officially thinks I am crazy).
"Why," you ask?
Because sometimes life throws us the wackiest curve balls, and instead of swinging at them, or even ducking, we turn to the crowd in the bleachers and go "What the HECK???!! HOW does this stuff HAPPEN to us?!" and then we fall to the ground laughing. (hypothetically, of course)
For example...poor Mandy's heat went out...again. Read her post about it. It is somehow funny. Funny that her family has to huddle in bed and dress in layers in order to catch a few minutes of sleep? no. Funny that even her DOG is shivering from the cold INSIDE their home? no. But funny because we have to laugh...or else we might cry! (BTW, the day her heat went out, her windshield cracked on her car....for no reason. no reason at ALL.) Laugh all you want. Its FUNNY!

Watch this, for more great examples:



So true. Right? We have to laugh at the things we are complaining about nowadays. Yes, its true. The economy is scary and worse than ever. The job market is frightening and not getting better. There are sad stories on the news every 3 minutes.
But look at us. We are SPOILED! We live in the best country on the planet (well...Mandy DID live here...and she will again eventually....and she works for a company here...so that counts). We have homes, food, and clothes. We have family and friends. We have a gracious, forgiving, powerful God who only gives us what we can handle.
All the "poor me" people out there should probably stop reading now, because I will probably hurt your feelings. Seriously...yes, it could all go away tomorrow. We could lose our jobs. Lose our homes. Not be able to afford X,Y, or Z. We could lose a loved one. We could have to live on Ramen Noodles. But that is EXACTLY why we need to be grateful and thankful for TODAY. While it's here. Quit complaining!
Quit complaining about what you DON'T have. Quit complaining about what others DO have. Quit complaining about other peoples' lives and actions. Quit complaining about EVERYTHING! I dont know any other nice way to put it. Just stop it. Stop thinking about what you are lacking or what you want so badly you ache. Happiness is wanting what you already have! Look around you and realize what God has given you. Be grateful.

Now dont get me wrong. I am all about planning ahead or preparing for tomorrow. Lets not act like its not coming eventually. So think ahead. But dont MISS today because of what might not happen tomorrow. Or because of what MIGHT happen tomorrow. Dont skip today's fun because tomorrow might suck.

Is life rainbows and sunshine and happiness all the time? no. But I wish people would remember that the bad times may be really hard while you're going through them, but when you are on the other side, you will be grateful for having been through it. It will make you stronger. And who doesnt want to be "strong"? :)

Take this as a pep talk, or a slap in the face. Take it as the ramblings of a girl who was sent home from work with a yucky case of yuckiness. Take as a lesson from someone who "sits on her high horse". Or take it from someone who was once voted by her high school senior class: CLASS COMPLAINER. (it's true...ask anyone from lauralton hall class of 1997)