Stinkin’ Thinkin’

June 30, 2019 by  
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous

By Robin J. Steinweg –

My name is Robin J. Steinweg, and I am a closet pouter.

It took reading a post on The Barn Door, a blog started by my friend Lisa Lickel, to wake me up and hear the non-music of my complaints.

I’m cold. I’m hot. I’m tired. I’m hungry. That was too much walking. I don’t get enough exercise. Too much noise! Way too much mess. Too busy. I’ve got nothing to do. Is it snowing again? This computer strains my eyes. My closet is stuffed. I’ve got nothing to wear. You wanna hear complaining? I’m just getting warmed up!

So what was it that started this round of whining? I had a week off from teaching. It’s called Spring Break hereabouts, and many of my students had trips scheduled to warm, sunny places (and had the nerve not to invite their music instructor—go figure). So I filled in the gaps with a schedule of tasks I don’t usually have time for. With more work than usual on my list, I began to feel sorry for myself, a response that crept in from a very warm place indeed. Well, to be fair, the devil shouldn’t get so much credit for my attitude, when my own sinful nature has no trouble grumbling all on its own.

How does God stand me at such times? I can hardly stand myself. In the Old Testament, there are accounts of God so frowning on Israel’s bellyaching, He sent poisonous snakes among them.

I need to face facts—my gripes are a tacit criticism of the day the Lord has made. And shame on me. It’s time for a radical purging of the Big Stink I’ve been putting up. Time for a week of Spring Cleaning. As Henry Ward Beecher said, “An ungrateful heart uncovers no mercies; but if a thankful heart sweeps through the day, it will find some heavenly blessings in every hour.”

QUOTE: “It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.” –W. J. Cameron

“Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14 NIV).

About Robin Steinweg

Today’s devotional is by Robin J. Steinweg. Robin’s life might be described using the game Twister: the colored dots are all occupied, limbs intertwine (hopefully not to the point of tangling), and you never know which dot the arrow will point to next, but it sure is fun getting there!
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Comments

4 Responses to “Stinkin’ Thinkin’”
  1. Lori Lipsky says:

    Methinks I gripe too much as well. The problem is I am often unaware it is even an issue in my life.

    Thanks for this well-written message, Robin. Today I will work on spotting the whiner in myself. Then I’ll purposefully stab it with thankful thoughts and words. At least I’ll give it a try.

    Thank you for your encouragement to do what is right. You do it in such a kind way.

    • Robin J. Steinweg says:

      Isn’t that the truth? You’ve given a great image for our stinkin’ thinkin’ eradication strategy, too: “stabbing it with thankful thoughts and words.” Well done!

  2. Alan Mowbray says:

    “…I am a closet pouter.”
    Nobody has ever hooked me on an article so quickly.
    My goal for the week is to tally how often I complain.
    I already wincing at the potential final tally.
    Great piece.

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