Complaining and murmuring

There is a lot to complain about.

A lot.

And even when I try not to complain, I find myself…

Complaining.

I talk with a friend and then realize we just complained the whole time.

I talk with my husband and realize I just complained about everything that went wrong that day.

I think the adversary really wants us to wallow in complaining – and he’s good at it.

He wants us to exaggerate all the bad that’s happening.

To point out how our experiences are lacking.

To compare in order to make it seem like we “have it worse” than the people around us.

I’ve had a rough week.

And I complained a lot.

I complained a lot to God. My prayers were mostly complaining. Asking for help to stop complaining and for a better attitude, but then not doing much to change anything.

I think of my Savior.

My beautiful, light-filled Savior.

Experiencing injustice after terrible circumstance after false accusation.

And still spreading light and joy. And peace and hope.

I think there is some value in a little “vent” session. I don’t want to emanate false positivity. I want to connect with others and empathize.

But I know when I’ve gone a little too far down in the mud.

I want to share more love. More light. More hope.

Life is tough.

But that doesn’t mean that life is bad.

I don’t think God wants us to walk around on this beautiful earth in our beautiful bodies with other beautiful souls… and just murmur.

And I think that might be the key to the slow, painful process of removing complaining from my life –

Gratitude.

Fill it up with so much gratitude that there isn’t room for much else.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black