A Complaint Free Lent

I rifle through the stack of library books nesting in the basket by the big leather chair. Some recommended by Amazon and others by mommas who let me into their lives each day via their blogs.  I grab one of the smaller ones, it's late and family prayer is getting ready to start.  Right now kids are gathered around the sink like wild animals gathered around the watering hole and every once in a while I hear the harsh words and angry tones that make me think the crocodile has just ambushed from the water and strangled the oblivious gazelle.

I think this particular book, A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, was an amazon recommendation based on my purchase of The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life.  My first thought as I looked at the cover, Oh that purple bracelet makes me think of the purple of Lent.





In 12 short days, we will host another party.  We will feast on friendship and pancakes and both will be syrupy sweet and topped with the big fat cherry of a joyful life.  The next day we will sober up to the facts of life; we are dust and unto dust we shall return.  We have already started talking about things to give up, work on or ways to increase our love and friendship with God Almighty.

A complaint free world?  How about a complaint free house?  Chris is resting on the couch and I start reading him bits and pieces of the book.  "Can you imagine the gift we would be giving our children?  The powerful life they would live, I mean really. live. if they bypass the habit of complaining?"

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits
†Proverbs 18:21

I think of my own example.  Unfortunately, my kids have inherited a complaining habit.  There may still be hope for the toddler, but he already says, "I not yike."  He thinks he's entitled to decide if he wishes to wear a diaper or not while running around the farm in 40 degree weather.  I don't sit around and complain.  That would be an obvious and seemingly easy fix.  No, it's more subtle than that, "Oh man, it's raining...Why does someone always spill something sticky the exact same day I decide to mop?...Did you see?...Can you believe?...I cannot believe!..I don't like...it's too hot, it's too cold, it's too wet, it's too dry..." and I become my own Goldilocks snuggled in the just right comfort of complaining only to be scared by the bear of sin sneaking up.





Kids start to wander in as Chris and I continue to talk.  Well, really it's me doing most, if not all of the talking.  He listens and nods.  "Have you all heard what dad and I have been talking about?"  I know they have because anytime they are in another room and Chris and I are talking, they are listening.  "So what do you mean?" The Boy asks.  "Well, if I make you eggs for breakfast and you say, "Eggs again!" that would be complaining."  Different scenarios are played out, questions are asked and answered.  Someone rolls their eyes and I point out the complaint.  "And if we already had our no complaint bracelets, not only would you have to move yours for your complaint, I would have to move my for complaining about your complaining."

Here's how it works:
1. Begin to wear the bracelet on either wrist.
2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping, or criticizing, move the bracelet to the other wrist and begin again.  Your goal is 21 days of no complaining, gossiping or criticizing.
3. If you hear someone else wearing a bracelet complain, it's okay to point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you're going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!  Because you're complaining about their complaining.
4. Stay with it.  It may take many months to reach 21 consecutive days of no complaining, gossiping or criticizing.  The average is 4 to 8 months.

If it comes out of your mouth, it counts, so start over.  If you think it, it's free.  But you'll find out that even complaining thoughts will disappear as you move through this process.
A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted

This will be a part of our Lenten journey this year.  We already have gratitude journals to number the blessings, but to fight this battle from the other end as well...it will be like building the gratitude muscle and losing the fat of complaining, gossiping and criticizing. 

Instead of the purple "Complaint Free bracelets" I am going to see if the local pro-life office has any more blue "Choose Life" bracelets.  I want to support the cause for life while we choose life.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.
†Deuteronomy 30:19