Attitude of Gratitude

Rushing at 3:30pm, I picked up N from school to drive her to her Jazz and Tap dance class. Inside the car, she started to "whine"...

"Mom, you did not pack me healthy snacks today! I was hungry. It's Wednesday, you're supposed to pack me healthy snacks. Donuts, Luncheables and Doritos chips are not healthy"....

I tried to be calm, after all I really should have packed a healthier snack. As I recall, this morning was a frantic morning. When I woke up, I realized we run out of snack stuff in our pantry. Since we woke up late, I decided to drop off the kids to school without snack, then I drove to Safeway and got that donut, Luncheables and Doritos, returned to school and dropped it off for them.

N continued with the complain... "And mom, why didn't you answer your cell phone when we called you. Auntie V called so we can ask you if we can bring B to my dance class because I wanted her to watch...and she wanted to watch. Why didn't you answer your phone?" (take note...this has a very whiny tone of voice when she asked this).

Being the "wonderful" mom that I am... I gave N a lecture on how she should have an "attitude of gratitude" instead of complaining and whining. Actually, I was not so nice when i lectured her. I started enumerating the things I do for her and threatened her that I won't drive her to dance class anymore if all she does is "complain".

All of a sudden it hit me that I do the same thing with God....Like N, there were times when I would ask with a whiny attitude:

"God, why didn't you give me this?"
"God, you're supposed to do this for me!"
"God, why are you not answering my prayers?"

Ouch!

So, next time I am tempted to whine, I will remember this little story and remind myself that if all I do is complain, God might not take me to the "dance class" anymore.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

reposted from February 1 2007