“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:1-3
She was five years old and possessed the ability to drain me dry with incessant whining. A simple request for water or a snack turned into a pathetic, moaning song, “I’m thiiiiiirsty” or “I’m starvvvvving.” The daily ritual of requesting, accompanied by a meltdown in progress, needed to be stopped. If a request was made with a whine, then it was denied. The annoying habit was at last broken. Parenting isn’t for sissies!
My daughter outgrew the childish stage of whining. I was relieved. But in truth, I can be an adult “whiner.” I adopt the sing-song style of complaining. And the worst part, my whining is directed toward the One who least deserves it – God. I pray specific requests, and sometimes, He just doesn’t answer when or how I want Him to. At times, He allows me to be hit by hard, hurtful situations. I call a friend and before long she starts whining along with me. Inadvertently, I invite her to my whining party. A more mature and direct friend once asked me “Would you like a little cheese with that whine?” I chuckled but understood her pointed question. Whining is annoying to the ears that receive it.
I can’t imagine being God and listening to incessant whining from ungrateful children (adult children at that!) When my five year old begged and cried for simple requests I was angered. God doesn’t take kindly to it either. The children of Israel whined and grumbled on their way to the Promised Land. The result – all grumblers died in the wilderness. They were cut off from entering the place they traveled so long to enter. I imagine it all started with the first moan and then the party grew. It only takes a spark….
My desire and intention is to have a whine free year. I’ll bring my requests and my hurts to God in a manner He is worthy of – respect and reverence.