Gratitude and the Whiny Girl’s Club
If you are an eternal optimist this particular blog will not make a whit of sense. It might even get on your grateful nerves, because you can’t imagine why folks need help to be bright eyed and bubbly. Your theme song seems to be “Buck up Buttercup, the days getting ready to bloom.”
But for those of us in the Whiny Girl’s Club we understand that optimism is not natural for us, its not even a distant relative of ours.
I have found gratitude grows best if, ahead of our expectations for ourselves and others, we amend the soil of our heart with determination. Yep, gratitude is not a fuzzy feeling that descends on us from a fluffy cloud, honest, but it is more a badge of bravery, truly.
Who knew?
Gratitude means we celebrate our circle of people because we see the best parts of them first and we can hardly wait to throw our pocket full of confetti (not rocks) in their direction…which means we hardly notice that our hubby, once again, forgot our birthday, or that our co-worker took full credit for what we accomplished together, or that the puppy peed in our shoe right after we took her out.
But really who is thankful for those oversights and aggravations? I dare say even the most positive among us feel a tad rankled.
From my observations though the difference between “them” (the confetti crowd) and “us,” (the rock and rollers) is they don’t think the worst first, they don’t set themselves up for disappointment by pinning their hopes on someone else’s behavior, and they don’t absorb inconveniences as a reason to have a bad day.
Which is why gratitude is a badge of bravery for those of us who don’t find it easy or inherent. We must make up our mind to not be thin-skinned, over sensitive, and moody, because life is neither predictable or convenient. Some of us are absorbers and take too much personally and deeply, and we can nurse it into a full on grudge. We (I) need to practice letting the little stuff go until it becomes more natural for us (me) to respond gratefully.
Wait. Who am I kidding? It may never be flat out natural for us, but we can improve with discipline and determination and by learning the art of forgiveness, which means we fire the grudge-nurse and get on with our lives.
The Bible tells us we need to gird up (strengthen) our minds, so to me, Ms Whiney Britches herself, as a new day breaks I need to prepare my thoughts so I consciously enter the day mentally equipped for real life, which may include disagreements, a change of plans, and pop-up clamor.
I find memorization and meditation in God’s Word shores up my courage and strengthens my resolve to keep trying. And naming aloud some of the things I am most thankful for seems to grow my gratitude list and shields my heart from pettiness. Singing songs of thankfulness also helps…or even a hum can help keep our heart optimistic.
How long has it been since you hummed your way through a day? Be brave and purpose a happy hum, it helps…truly.
Verses of gratitude and determination; Psalms 77:11-14
Here’s What’s on My Bookshelf This Month
She Did What She Could by Elisa Morgan
Most days, I wake up humming or singing. I love to sing in the shower. I love to open the front door and then, the back door and say, “Thank You Lord for this glorious day.” There are days when I am not so happy due to back pain or arthritis. But, most days, I am thankful to say that I do wake up with a song in my heart. 🙂
Oh my goodness what a word in due season. My heart is heavy today. It’s been four long years since I’ve seen my 2 sons of which I have 3. Their wives were deeply offend years ago when we were letting go of the boys childhood into adulthood. It was hard not to be mommy & daddy. There felt we overstepped our bounds. They’ve distanced themselves and my heart is aching. I must remind myself I have a wonderful husband who loves me dearly & we have the 3rd son who we see often and share our lives with in which I am very very grateful. We where once a very close family. We did everything together. I’m trusting God to bring them back as I dance in the rain as my heart try’s to rise above the thunderous clouds
Yes, and sing all three verses of The Hallelujah Chorus, accopella!
Praising My Savior All The Day Long!
In His Great Love…
God bless, wake up feelings the same ,open a devotional and thank God for His love and care through the night. Start praying for other for them in their struggles. Realize I don’t desire God grace but He gives it to me anyway, lots to be grateful for Praise the Lord!
Thank you Patsy, I surly needed to hear what you wrote for I have been down for awhile and as I read this, I realized that I need to pull up my britches And thank the Lord for giving me another day which is a gift from him.
I did get before him today and poured my heart out to him and then I clicked on your blog so God Bless you for your hummer and your blogs🌺
Thank you Patsy, I surly needed to hear what you wrote for I have been down for awhile and as I read this, I realized that I need to pull up my britches And thank the Lord for giving me another day which is a gift from him.
I did get before him today and poured my heart out to him and then I clicked on your blog so God Bless you for your hummer and your blogs🌺
Thankful for these words!
This was an answer to prayer for me. I do love mornings; but I’m so glad already today for the help in amending the soil of my heart when things didn’t go as expected. I’m too often ‘thin-skinned, overly-sensitive, & moody’; how sweet to be reminded that I have the choice not to be! Amazing grace.
Oh my goodness what a word in due season. My heart is heavy today. It’s been four long years since I’ve seen my 2 sons of which I have 3. Their wives were deeply offend years ago when we were letting go of the boys childhood into adulthood. It was hard not to be mommy & daddy. There felt we overstepped our bounds. They’ve distanced themselves and my heart is aching. I must remind myself I have a wonderful husband who loves me dearly & we have the 3rd son who we see often and share our lives with in which I am very very grateful. We where once a very close family. We did everything together. I’m trusting God to bring them back as I dance in the rain as my heart try’s to rise above the thunderous clouds
What a wonderful encouragement this is to me ! Keep an attitude of gratitude!🌻
A week ago I decided to chose courage over anxiety. My go-to is usually worry – but I’m going to jump over it ( it might always be there) and choose a determined mindset. I’m tired of getting robbed of joy. It’s hard for me to be happy for others at times (rock thrower)
I need this sweet encouragement that there are others like me… yes, reading God’s word, singing song, and looking for things to be grateful for is important, which I do… this blog helps me to be reminded that there are many of us in this whiny club and it’s OK!!!
God is abundantly able to rewire our thoughts so we have “renewed” minds! Soooo thankful!!!!
God is abundantly able to rewire our thoughts so we have “renewed” minds! Soooo thankful!!!!
Oh Patsy, thank you for writing this. As I grow into my 60s, I find it becoming harder to not ‘think the worst first’ and ‘see the best part of them first’. Thank you for the concrete, and obvious once i think about it, solutions for girding up my mind.
I NEEDED this today. Following bilateral knee replacements a month ago I have hit the place where gratitude is something I truly have to fight for every time.
Patsy, thank you for sharing. For that, I am grateful.
Yep, Ms. Whinney Britches here. I have to get into prayer each morning otherwise the “mood” sets in. I have to keep in the Lord’s presence with Word, devotionals, songs, prayer etc. I have to keep reminding myself that I am not in control anyway and happiness is fleeting but the joy of the Lord is my strength, even when I sometimes say that through clentched teeth, lol.
Thanks Patsy
Just what I needed to hear today.
Oh, Patsy, I’m right there with you. I too am a Miss Whiney Pants. I appreciate your insight and it saved me today from once again saying (complaining) “why didn’t you flush the toilet!” I so appreciate your blogs and the godliness of your heart! I’m going to hum right now…great is they faithfulness, oh God my father….
Sorry this is so long but finally felt I had to share this with you. Patsy God used you to teach me a very big lesson. I am a very self conscious lady. One Sunday evening we had a meeting before class at church that night. Rushing to get there I put on first two shoes I found ones I had woren earlier I thought. Heading to class our sweet pastor’s wife tapped me on the shoulder and quietly said did I realize I on two different colored shoes. Looking down I had on a red and a beige shoe! I look up and the hall had quickly gotten full of people, I asked my hubby for the keys where I could go home and change. He didn’t see the big deal but I sure did, I did go back to church and as I open the door of the classroom a burst of laughter erupted. It was packed and hubby didn’t save me a seat! I quickly slumped into the corner next to a guy who loves to joke! As I start listening to the tape our teacher was sharing it was you telling about your beautiful aha outfit and people smiling and you feeling so good about your appearance as I had felt before the shoe mixup. Then you saw a poor lady dragging her hose along just to find out it was you! God’s timing and God’s provision for me was beautiful! He introduced me to a beautiful Christian comedian. I have shared your tapes and books with friends. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you at two of your conferences. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with Christ and teaching great lessons from those experiences. Please keep up the great work I love it.
Great article! Unfortunately, I’m a whiny britches, too, so this article is just what I needed to hear. The one thing that jumped out at me is that we can not depend on others behaviors to determine our attitude!
Love This so much!
I resemble every single word you have written this day. It encourages my heart to read your words. You have a way of expressing my heart battles frequently, and it truly makes me smile amongst the tears of frustration. So much of my life wasted lamenting over why can’t I be like all my other Christian friends and especially…What’s Wrong With Me? Your words make me stop and ponder that I am not all messed up, but that I learn a little differently. That I do get back up and dust myself off and try again, because Jesus is right there throwing confetti when I do. Thanks Patsy! I will hum something today and enjoy the chuckle it brings. Kind of like a personal joke! Better yet… like a spit in the eye of the enemy of my soul. Have a sweet day!
Put a smile in my heart
Hello, It has been around 9 months since I’ve hummed, sang or even found time for my private time with the Lord. Before that I always had the time to have my private time with the Lord, wrote in my journal, and just sat and meditated, read my bible. I miss that. 🙁
THANK YOU PATSY…WE ALL NEED TO BE REMINDED & ENCOURAGED OF WHAT GOD DESIRES OF US…& WHO WE ARE AS HIS DAUGHTERS. I LOVE YOUR TRANSPARENCY & HUMOR TOO! <3 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK…FOR HIS GLORY!!! <3
Gosh, Miss Patsy. How I miss you , your precious face, your enthusiasm for life, your wisdom that is so obviously from God. The few times I was with you at WOF in NC you lifted my spirit when I needed it most. You prayed for my Mike, when he was deployed. Your smile always warmed my heart when I thought I made a mistake in serving you. So today I say I am tired of letting ‘you know who’ eat both my lunch and my dinner and put him away. I am getting more of your books. I need a breakthrough. And I am going to get it. God bless you. Your influence is great. 😘
I’ve learned to sing or hum…I’ve even tried singing with Andre’ Rieu’s Netherlands CD…in the Dutch dialect. I don’t know any foreign languages. My choruses and hymns come easily too. I’ve been known to be a whiner, but then I graciously find the best in everyone else. God is good all the time. I eagerly look the Lord each day for our time together. If I miss it, I feel slighted and things go awry. TY for this blog. I needed to hear this and soak it up Buttercup.
Absolutely the hardest lesson to learn but one of the most important. Still struggle with this daily.
As always…wonderful thoughts. It really just comes down to us, doesn’t it? Our response, our thinking, our perspective, and our asking God. This has encouraged me to think about mine. Thank you.
Back in the dark ages, when I was a child (1950’s) my mother used to recite a little saying to me. “I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.” Everything is relative, so, things could be worse….
Oh how I would sit and listen to you share wisdom all day long. It’s front porch time with friends here in northeast PA and I love it. I value your sharing!! Thank you, Patsy. ❤️
I have both kinds of days…usually the humming…or more like whistling(bad habit I picked up from my dad and his mom) but there are days when it hurts to get up and I have to remind myself to bath in God’s word….thank you for this honest and wonderful blog.
This is do helpful , I’ve had a few tough months lately and im just coming out of them. Surgery,, and,a horrible scare, left me depressed and anxious, plus trying to recover my strength and sanity from the surgery. Your words,have,helped to lift me up today and will keep me lifted as i continue on my recovery. God bless. He never leaves us.
I’ve had a hard time “rallying the troops” so to speak lately. I was in the hospital for almost a week very sick, found out shortly after that that my husband has a sex addiction (that I had no CLUE about), then my dog died. Oh and I had a friend tell me that it must be my participation in another person’s sin as to the reason I was in the hospital. I have also been experiencing a large amount of rejection these days from “friends” and that combined with everything else makes it difficult to be happy. Some days I feel like I’m gritting my teeth and saying thank you for things — I am truly grateful for many things, but this last year has been hard to say the least. These days I force myself to be thankful — there are plenty of things to be thankful for, but I feel overwhelmed and sad most days.
Once again Patsy you found my head space and redecorated it! Your writing is so refreshing. Not many people could point out that I’m ungrateful and whiny and inspire me to strengthen my mind as a badge of bravery rather than digging in to my ungratefulness and whininess wearing it as my badge of honor.
Thank you, Patsy, for all that you continue to do for others. Your smile, your wit, your humbleness, continues to be an inspiration and reminds me to find relevance in today’s world from God’s word. You’re a straight shooter who never judges and I am grateful.
Patsy, I just love you! You are an inspiration, and full of wisdom. I just read something else that you wrote about your son Jason, when he was six and wanted to quit school, because it was too long, too hard, and too boring. You told him, “it’s life; get on the bus!” This made me laugh. Thank you!
So glad that I am not the only one who struggles with morning time. I have to start a graditude list again. And music does help me as well .thanks everyone for your brave shares. Helps me!!?