My Oscar Winning Pity Party Performance

Just this past week, I was on my lunch break and was eating with a co-worker.  We got on the subject of how tired we are and that opened the door wide for me to start complaining.  I began to tell her how I was feeling "left out".  Left out of all the FUN stuff in life.  Then I went on to tell her all about how busy I was.  Always on the run.....always going, going, going!  That lead into how my house will never be clean for 24 hours straight.  I told her all about how my kitchen rarely stays clean.  I clean it up, start the dishwasher and feel good about it.  Come back an hour later and "BOOM!"  there's an empty glass in the sink along with a plate that has left over signs of pizza!!!  Once I finished the kitchen scenario, I told her in a very pitiful voice that no one appreciated me.  Not my husband, not my children, not my dogs and certainly not the fish in the fish tank who watch me day in and day out do the same things over and over.  Of course, please picture all of the above with me using lots and lots of expression!  Not only with my hands but with my face and I definitely used the tone of my voice to really drive some of the important points home.  It was an Oscar defining moment for me. 

Have you been there?

Why do we complain?  Once again, I will be the first to admit that I complain.  I think we complain because it's easy!  It's simple to say what is wrong about a situation; its more difficult to find what is right and talk about it.  Another reason we complain is because we tend to find fellowship with others who have the common complaints as ours.  When we have something negative to talk about  --  BOY OH BOY  --  we can talk for hours!

Grumbling has been around for a long, long time!  Some of our grumbling to others is to show case our pity party.  We want some one to show us sympathy...it makes us feel a little better knowing that someone else knows our complaint.  Charles Spurgeon once said, "He is richest who is content with the least."

Are we content?  The truth is contentment comes from the heart; it is not dependent on material things.  Are you waiting on a new house  -  or a better school for your kids  -  or for a car who runs normally with out the exhaust fumes choking everyone out in the car line at school  -  or for the day when your husband is more sensitive and understanding of your feelings?  The truth is your contentment is independent of what we have or who surrounds us.  It comes from the heart. 

Back to my Oscar Winning Performance.....later in the day when I was home, I sat down to do my devotions.  The devotional book that I was reading mentioned the verse "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."  Wouldn't you agree this is a great verse?  We all know this verse and use it for all kinds of occasions.  But I learned something...it is often a mis-used verse.  Paul wrote this verse.  Did you know he was talking about contentment when he wrote it?  The verses before this one says,  " I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.   I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all things thru Christ who stregthens me." 

He was giving us the key to unlocking our prison of self pity: believing that with God's strength we can get through whatever life brings.  After I read and re-read this, I began to remember my pity party at lunch and started to feel very, very badly.  Paul wrote these verses while in a Roman prison.  If anyone had the right to throw a pity-party, it certainly would be him.  Instead, Paul chose to face his jail time by looking up and not down.  He did not focus on how bad his circumstances were but what God could do thru the circumstances.  Paul wrote from that prison cell, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  WOW!  If Paul can have that kind of contentment in jail, then I'm sure I can have it in my laundry room.

SO...., a lesson learned for me.  One I already knew, and will need to be reminded of -- but I am grateful that God reminded me of all I have to be content about.  Through all the stressful challenging situations of my life (and yours) we can still find contentment when we fix our eyes and place our hope in God.  He's the only one who can give us strength to make it through.