Whining and pouting isn't attractive. It doesn't solve any problems either. Pouting and whining that results in another person giving in only steals the joy out of the victory. That Christmas song reminds us that "You better watch out. You better not cry. Better not pout..." Sure, Santa Claus is coming to town, but there are far better reasons to avoid pouting.
Pouting isn't pretty. The frowning causes way more wrinkles than smiling. Whining is like nails on a chalkboard to many people. It isn't only unattractive, it acts like a repellant. Pouting and whining are joy stealers.
Yes, things are different this year. Some things we can't control. Sometimes... we make hard choices. Once the choice is made, we need to own it. Live with it. That is what some promote as "putting on your big girl panties and dealing with it."
Dan Crenshaw was a Navy Seal until an explosion took one eye and left him vision impaired in his other eye. A while back I heard Dan talk a little about the day that changed his life, took his career and made him pause and ponder much about life, as he waited on surgeries and healing. I remember him saying his Seal team showed up at the hospital as soon as the staff would let them in his hospital room. They are more like brothers than teammates. It isn't just a job, but a way of life. It wasn't long before one of them asked if it was too soon to start making jokes about him only having one eye. (GASP!) Actually, he said that was exactly what he needed. He didn't need a pity party... he needed his friends with him, but not feeling sorry for him. He needed to lean on them but no coddling allowed.
It reminds me of this scripture:
"But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth." -2 Timothy 4:17
Pouting and whining never solved the root of a problem. We can be absorbed by our woes from our head to our toes, but life is fullest when we choose gratitude.
Dan Crenshaw gave a beautiful Thanksgiving address this year on his Podcast. He said this with the greatest of humility: "Someone else has suffered greater - and dealt with it better."
That about sums it up perfectly. It is a powerful reminder that in every life there are hard moments that define us. Breathe. Pray. Pause.
Today, I’m grateful for reminders to not pout.
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