Complain And There Goes Your Brain(!)

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life..."   ... Philippians 2:14

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First, Sammy The Cat got sick. Now I must give him meds and keep him in a large crate upstairs because for two nights he used our newly cleaned carpet like a litter box.

At this same time, my alarm clock became undependable. Then died. I bought a battery-operated one which works--when it feels like it. So then I bought an electric one from Ebay (and during all this, lost sleep while wondering if I'd wake up on time to get Tom out of here for work.)

Last Monday a black round thing fell off our dishwasher door. Fearing it might leak now, I began washing dishes by hand till Tom could look into the problem over the weekend.

On Wednesday, our 12-year-old washing machine filled with water, agitated ok, then refused to spin and rinse. As I pulled sopping wet clothes from the dirty water I willed myself not to cry (but cried a little anyway).

This is only a test. This is only a test. (And those were just the ones I care to mention.)

It's hard to keep a sense of humor and hope during these times, right? But I'm trying anyway, reminding myself that complaining displeases God--oh--and now articles like this one are popping up --

Complaining Is Bad For Your Brain


Wow. Better brace yourself with some coffee before you read that or the many similar articles out there.


These lines stood out for me--


"The problem with many complaints today is that they can become a way to vent, as opposed to a way to problem solve .... rather than resolving problems and creating change, complaining can become ineffective and create unnecessary stress.

The stress caused by complaining can have a lasting and negative impact on the brain... even a few days of stress damages the neurons in the hippocampus (the part of the brain used for problem solving and cognitive functioning), and impairs its ability to create new neurons.

Over time this can result in the hippocampus shrinking, which can cause a decline in cognitive functions such as memory and the ability to adapt to new situations."

Oh. My. Goodness. At 58, I certainly cannot afford to have my brain become any smaller. Heavens, no.

I want to solve problems rather than just become one (the type people unfollow at Facebook). I want to hold onto God's peace rather than man's stress (which brings that dark, discouraged feeling). I want to remember God is able. He is, you know.

Even during these trying days, may I choose shining like a beacon of Light rather than moaning like just another whiner with a negative, shrinking brain.

We can do this. We can live and believe positively even in Today's world because hooray! There's more grace available now to do so.

Whew.

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Progress report (as we've been trying not to complain, but to fix things, instead) --

Sammy The Cat is improving!

Both my alarm clocks are (mostly) working great. (Here's the vintage Ebay one. Cute, right?) --

I can use our dishwasher while we're waiting for the replacement part!

The washing machine, though ... We'll have to use our hopefully-not-complaining brains (what's left of them) to figure-out how we'll deal with that. Stay tuned.

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"Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."   ... Ephesians 4:29

"Complain and remain. Praise and be raised."  --- Joyce Meyer

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