Simply Spiritual

A child in Ghana

Stop complaining falls more or less in the same category as stop worrying.  Just as there are chronic worriers, there are chronic complainers, people who just complain about everything and could never be satisfied about anything.

I read in a magazine recently about some college students from the US who took a trip to West Africa – Nigeria and Ghana specifically.

Their experience there taught them to be appreciative and grateful for the things they have in their own country.  What they take for granted, these people don’t know much about.  Basic things like indoor plumbing and electricity.  One student said she has learned to be appreciative of her education, and not just the academics, but basic stuff like hygiene and health.

Another student said whenever she found herself wanting to complain about no airconditioning, hot water, or not having anything to wear, she remembers her trip to Africa.

But what was most interesting to me is that one of them expressed his amazement that even though the Ghanian people had barely enough to survive, they were happy and content. 

And this is the point really, we here in the western world, despite the fact we have everything – good education, access to technology, abundant food and the basic necesities – we just don’t seem to be satisfied or happy with life.  While the people in some partfs of Africa are struggling to survive, they have learned to be happy with what they do have – which is not much by our standards.

We have to start recognizing how blessed we are and stop taking our abundance for granted.  There is no need to complain or worry because God is always there to take care of us.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.”  Philippians 4:6