Complaining. What an awful, whining sound it is to say that word...
To complain is to refuse God's gift of hardship to us. If He never gave us difficulties, we would have much fewer opportunities for penance! We should thank Him for giving us the means by which we can save our souls, and eagerly take action upon it. How satisfied the devil must be when he sees these gifts turned into more venial sins instead.
Complaining takes away the challenges and lessens the sweetness of life. The things that we don't like, that make us uncomfortable, present to us a challenge to overcome our pitiful, shrunken, selfish souls with courage, selflessness, nobility, sacrifice. To bear unpleasant things well, even small ones, is actually quite a noble thing. Even a small sacrifice has its measure of nobility.
Complaining immediately drags the soul downward, and makes us believe we really aren't capable of bearing any kind of suffering at all. But if we simply hold our tongues and endeavor to make the best of a situation, we find that we really can endure quite a lot, and perhaps even enjoy ourselves in the midst of it all.
One of the things most complained about, I believe, is the weather. It's too hot, it's too cold, there's too much rain, too much snow, it's too windy, "it's nice, but I prefer it a touch cooler"... One would think we could never be satisfied. God chooses the weather every day-- I don't think we should feel too comfortable criticizing His judgment!
A final word about complaints and rationalizations for not doing chores: One is hardly ever so tired as one believes himself to be.
This is so true. For even St. Louis De Monfort said: "Roses are only gathered from among thorns. As wood is fuel for the fire, so too is the Cross the only fuel for God's love.Carry your cross with joy and you will be inflamed with divine love, for only in suffering can we dwell in the pure love of Christ."
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