Winners and Not Whiners!

With November well on its way and our surroundings (if we look around us) showing off the magnificent handiwork of an Almighty God, we are ushered into a time that our culture celebrates all the things that we are thankful for.

In the blogging world, what few sites I browse through every so often, I am seeing a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness in many posts.

A couple of months back I picked up the book, Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.



Our memory verses for me and the children are from Philippians 4:4-9 where we are encouraged to be thankful and think only on things that are true, just, noble, pure, lovely, and of good report.

We are teaching our children to be Winners and not Whiners! With seven children in the house all the time, one can only imagine the amount of whining that could go on if allowed. How do we deal with children whining? Especially for our oldest, they are not allowed to continue whatever they are speaking about until the "whine" is replaced with a normal voice. For all children, whatever they are whining for, they do not get. If it takes place during playtime with a sibling, then they are not allowed to continue playing until the whining has ceased. From experience, whatever you decide to do about whining, nip it in the bud when they are little (like around 2!) or you will end up with a whiny 7 year old and then a whiny 12 year old and maybe even a whiny adult! Their future mate, children , pastor, coworkers, etc... will be so thankful you did!

This post was really not intended to coach parents how to transform whiny children into children with a winning attitude, but it could not be ignored. This post is simply a reflection of what I believe God is trying to teach me. I have simply become a whiny adult. In soooo many ways, I am not the grateful woman that He desires for me to be. I see that in my marriage. I see that in my parenting. I see that in my self-image. I see that in my friendships. I see that in my outlook on the world. This is going to be a major undertaking! But, I BELIEVE with all of my heart that is foundational to my success as a christian woman desiring to be fulfilled in Christ.

I don't know what this journey of gratitude is going to look like for me, but I am taking those steps down this narrow pathway hand in hand with my Maker and I believe it will be for my good and His glory. I hope to share much more on this in the days to come, but for now I would like to leave with you a quote by Lucy C. Smith and also encourage you to meditate today on Philippians 4:4-9. May we as women of God refuse to remain whiners. May we become winners in the area of gratitude!

"One thing is indisputable: the chronic mood of looking longingly at what we have not, or thankfully at what we have, realizes two very different types of character."

Maybe, just maybe.... if we stop whining, our children will as well.

Nichole