Ed, my neighbour next door, was the victim of my complaining about the cost of tires the other day. I was in an "I want to gripe, grouch, grumble and whine right now" mood.
It was my own fault for buying four new winter tires for our van. It was really no big deal other than the cost of the tires put the checking account into an economic crisis. When the bank account registers on empty, I get depressed and want to let off steam to anyone who will listen. Ed was sort of my captive. He asked for a ride to Yorkton and had no way of escaping my bellyaching except by jumping out of my moving car, which he decided not to try.
I was not complaining about Ed but it probably didn't matter much to him. When you have to listen to another person griping it doesn't help that they are not grumbling about something you did. Bellyaching and whining seem fine at the time when we are doing them but, to those who have to listen to us, it is like they are locked in a room with a loud ringing alarm clock that they cannot shut off.
Ed said I really need to take up drinking and give up talking. Drinking can help you forget what you want to grouch about and being silent gives people the hope you are a good listener so they can talk your ear off. According to Ed good listeners are harder to find than hens' teeth.
"Did you shop around to get the best deal possible on your snow tires? How much warranty came with the tires? Was installation and balancing included? How many seasons did your old winter tires do you?" Ed desperately questioned me to try and get me to put the brakes on my whining about the cost of my tires.
Of course I didn't want to talk facts and answer his questions. There is no point in bellyaching if you have to admit there isn't very much substance to your complaining. In hindsight, I realize I didn't have much to complain about. The cost of the new tires was fair, but spending the money put me in the mood to whine.
The Bible indicates that grumbling is common to a lot of folks. Grumblers are linked with faultfinders. When the Israelites were being led from slavery in Egypt to 'the promised land,' they grumbled about 'manna,' their food from heaven. God, Moses and Aaron were also the objects of their complaining.
The Lord is not pleased when we grumble against Him or each other. The Jews grumbled about Jesus when he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." It is part of our human nature to take offence at what people say or do. We can take offence and grumble about anything from the weather to a relative who has been dead for years.
Grumbling is like an itch that when scratched gives only a temporary pleasure or relief. The more one grumbles, the more the rash of self-centered thinking grows. Grumbling begins with a touch and takes over one's life just like poison ivy. When you are in the mood to gripe, grumble, grouch and whine, keep in mind it is a waste of your time and of the time of those who hear you.
