“I can’t understand you when you’re whining.”
She says with tears and emotion and purpose, “But I want a granola bar!”
“I gave your sister the last one. You are just fine. You just finished lunch. Please stop whining.”
Sob, sob, sob….for about 12 seconds. I walk out of the room.
The granola bar is forgotten in favor of Super Why.
She wasn’t hungry. She wasn’t hurt. She just wanted what her sister had. And I have to partially lie when I tell her that I can’t understand her through her whines.
I do understand. I do understand her outrageous demands through blubbers and snot and sniffs and wails. I understand her in the midst of her whines.
What I am trying to explain to her is that when she whines it makes it nearly impossible to separate her request from her overly emotional burst. Her whining is selfish and is directs all eyes to her and her usually irrational desire. Whines come in the form of
I don’t want to go!
But I had it first!
You’re hurting my hair!
But she…but she….
It makes me wonder, this afternoon, as I am trying to see straight after waking up from a nap that I couldn’t help, that I expect the same from God when I whine. He does understand me through my whines, and He doesn’t claim to be ignorant of my requests, however they are delivered.
I whine…What about my extra five pounds, my tantruming toddler, the messy toy room, my out-of-style clothes, the money I don’t have and the bills I owe….what about…?
I sure do whine. And I whine loudly, but my whines come out in the forms of irritation at my husband or my kids, and frustration with my closet or my inability to keep things organized for more than a week. My whines are intended to direct eyes on myself, on my selfishness.
I guess, at these times I should take my eyes off myself and try to relinquish my selfishness. And like any good Parent, God just might remain silent until I am done. He waits for me to stop whining until I am ready to rest quietly and begin to listen to Him.
Me too…God too (He is very good at waiting for me to stop whining).
. We can wear our out of style clothes together, eat chocolate chips cookies and wonder why the 5lbs won’t drop, stare at toys, and wonder again at how God will provide this time for this bill and that.
Sarah, ,come live by me
Ah, so very, very true. I whine often and God in His sweet loving mercy just listens…I guess I should take example from Him. We definitely do it..just in adult form.
It kind of makes me feel a little less of a person, or maybe not as great as I think I am when I think of it as whining.
Great post and great reminder…thanks!!
So true! How selfish we are when we tantrum/whine because it is all about our wants and needs. Thankfully God is patient and let’s us get it out.
Well said, AMEN!
Dawn :0)
thanks for the gentle reminder that whining doesn’t get me anywhere… although i’m sure that God is a much more patient parent than i could ever be!
ooh , that’s so true! God is so patient–i’m a big time whiner and i HATE it when the kids whine. it drives me insane. thanks for the reminder.
Amen dearest one! We sure do whine and tantrum just like a toddler, we’re just bigger!
Miss you so much.
Yup.
(that says it all).
thank you so much for this, sarah. i say the some “lie” to my girls daily. “i can’t understand you talking that way. please try again.”
but, you’re so right. i’ve begun to whine too…just in different ways.
i appreciate this post so much.
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