The Complainer's Corner by Martin Wiles

May I invite you to the complainer’s corner?
I have a nice cushiony sofa for you to recline on. There.
Comfy?
Now, go ahead, complain.

Who could resist that invitation? So you begin. 

“My husband never helps around the house. All he wants is his recliner, remote and newspaper. He’s another Archie Bunker.” 

“My wife spends and spends. She thinks money grows on trees. I work hard for our money and she blows it on getting her nails done, having her hair fixed and a new outfit.” 

Can’t leave the kids out. “Mom and Dad never let me do what I want. There’s always some reason why what I want isn’t good for me.”

And what about the boss who makes unreasonable demands? The cashier who obviously doesn’t know you’re in a hurry. Or Mrs. Know-It-All at church who thinks her two cents is more important than your five. Why I’m even guilty of complaining about complainers.

I, for one, have to make an effort to avoid the Complainer’s Corner. It’s more tantalizing than the Encourager’s Corner. And certainly more comfortable. Complaining seems natural while encouragement takes effort. It’s easier to criticize people than recognize their good points.

To complain or not to complain, that is the question. Perhaps we should change the “time out” corner to the “complain out” corner.

Heavenly Father, help us learn to encourage rather than complain.

Dr. Martin W. Wiles is Pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville, SC, author of two devotional books and former correspondent for the Baptist Courier. He and his wife Michelle have a devotional ministry called Morning Lite Ministry.

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