I guess I do my share of complaining, maybe a little more than I should. Sometimes I am a little ashamed of myself, especially when I find out how wrong I am in my complaint. However, I do try to reserve my complaints for those who deserve it.

More than that, I like to think my complaints just might help others. For instance, when I complained about the two Wendy’s employees that were busy shooting the breeze with each other when they saw me and others waiting at the counter. Right in front of them I counted loudly to five and said, “Okay. You don’t want my money. I’ll go somewhere else.” And I did. I have not been back.

On the other hand, there are those who will complain at the drop of the hat. I saw them in high school and I saw them in the corps. In the Marines, I heard it said that you can tell a happy marine by how he complains. I have to admit there is some truth in that.

Certainly, I noticed that civilians like to complain too. Moreover, the complains often precede the crime. The man that complains about having nothing is likely to go out and try to steal what he can’t buy. In some cases, he takes what he shouldn’t have. In still other cases, a person might kill the person he was complaining about just a short time earlier.

I have been told to avoid the complainer, the one who complains just because he likes to complain. Today’s complaints turn into tomorrow’s feeling of being treated wrong. Then of course, he feels like he deserves that which he doesn’t. Or maybe he does deserve that thing he lost. Either way, when he thinks he deserves what he doesn’t have, when he feels he has been wronged, he is likely to eventually do more than complain. Then, he gets in trouble and, if you are around him, you might get in trouble too.

If you have read your Bible much, you will have likely read about complaining. In many cases, God dealt with the complaining. He did have punishments for them, as well as those who were with the complainers. Those who kept their mouths closed and just put up with the trials were punished with those who grumbled. Never could totally figure that out, but it is the way God did it. Perhaps there is a lesson in that. Sometimes it’s just not enough to not complain. Sometimes we should open our mouths in praise and in thanks when those around us are grumbling. I don’t know. Just a personal observance.

Nonetheless, I’ve got to admit, sometimes I just like to complain, even when I know I shouldn’t. When I catch myself doing that, I try to ask for forgiveness and to thank God for the abundance which I have. I think it helps. Maybe it helps others too.

Still, those Wendy’s employees. I hope they got the message. Somehow, I don’t think so. Sometimes, no matter what, the complaining just doesn’t do anyone any good. It just gives Satan a toe hold. And we all know Satan knows what to do with a toe hold.