I am a grumbler, mumbler and an eyeball roller. Something annoying happens and I will grumble if there’s a sympathetic ear nearby. If it’s not appropriate for me to complain out loud, I’ll mumble Shmurmur shmurmur under my breath. If someone overhears me and says, What did you say? I can honestly say, Oh nothing, because shmurmur shmurmur isn’t really saying anything. If I can’t grumble or mumble without being caught doing it, I’ll roll my eyes. I’ve rolled my eyes so many times, I’m lucky they aren’t lodged permanently into the back my head.

I grumble, mumble and eyeball roll, even though I am familiar with the following passage: Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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. Philippians 2:14-15

Sometimes I grumble, mumble and eyeball roll over important things, but most of the time, I grumble, mumble and eyeball roll over things that won’t even matter next week, let alone tomorrow.

Many times grumbling, mumbling and eyeball rolling are directed right at God. And this is when grumbling, mumbling and eyeball rolling goes past annoying to sinful. Grumbling reflects the condition of our hearts. Grumbling is a deadly disease that threatens our joy and faith. It permeates our souls and rots our hearts. After it’s done a job on you, it spreads to others. It’s more contagious than Covid.

The opposite of grumbling is gratitude. Gratitude reveals that we haven’t lost sight of God’s grace. Open your eyes. It’s all around us. Gratitude should pour out of our hearts whenever we’ve gotten a gift we didn’t deserve. Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. As undeserving people, who have received the Grace of the Lord Jesus, we are the recipients of God’s Grace all the time. We live it, we breathe it. Because of this, our language should be full of thanksgiving.

Gratitude is the language of heaven. Grumbling is the language of the world. The world is filled to the brim with grumbling. It is ruled by the prince of the power of the air and its citizens speak the official language.

The children of God should not speak the official language of the world. The Apostle Paul tells us we are citizens of Heaven. Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven… As such, we ought to speak the official language of Heaven.

It’s almost irresistible to see all the negative things going on all around us and not speak the language of the world- grumbling and complaining about it. I struggle with it on a daily basis. Oh, who am I kidding? I struggle with it on an hourly basis! Yet for our mental and spiritual health, we must do as Scripture commands us to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This Thanksgiving, at your dinner tables, may you speak the official language of Heaven to your loved ones.