…be thankful for it.

I know. It’s a weird way to start off a post, especially when I haven’t written a thing for a week. Really, I should be asking you how your Christmas was, and telling you how much I missed you. We should really be talking about what everyone’s doing for New Year’s, and dreaming together about how we will fill the blank page of 2014.

But not today. Today I feel like I need to discuss something else.

Our office was open both Thursday and Friday this week, and we weren’t alone. Most businesses in our building were open, and downtown was bustling like a normal business week. I understand that people weren’t that excited to be at work the day after Christmas. Truly, I get that. But I noticed something that was over the top, even under these circumstances: people complaining about their jobs everywhere I went. And not just grumbling because they had to be there on December 26th.

No.

They were grumbling because they couldn’t BELIEVE they were being saddled with this project, or that.

Don’t they KNOW what all I have to do? Why can’t so-and-so do it? She is worthless. She never does ANYTHING. I do EVERYTHING. Seriously, what are they even THINKING?

Now, I understand that there is a lot of unrest in the job market. After all, I talk to people every single day who are actively seeking new jobs. I know that some people have legitimate complaints.

But not everybody.

Sometimes I think we just like to complain. We have a bad day, or feel overwhelmed, and we start talking, inviting someone else to belly up to our pity bar and have a cold one. To consider that, hey, maybe their lives aren’t that great either. And maybe their employer, if different from our own, is dumping on them, too. Pretty soon, it spreads and a negativity-fest is rocking in epic proportion and “The Man” is out to get us all.

The thing is, complaining systematically wipes out gratitude.

But you know what? The opposite is also true.

Instead of “shoving it,” what if we looked at our jobs, even on our worst days, through a lens of gratefulness? The unemployment rate is staggering, after all; shouldn’t we be thankful we are not one of its statistics? What we do may not be our dream job, but we can perform the job well, without poisoning the atmosphere with negativity, while we look for the one that makes our heart sing.

Maybe if we were the ones to start clearing the air, the world would start singing a new song. I think that’s how I’ll try to fill that blank page of the new year.

How about you?

Oh, and P.S…I really did miss you! I’m so happy to be back. 🙂

“Do all things without grumbling or questioning…” Philippians 2:14 ESV

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 ESV

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV