Remember Grumpy in the movie “Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs”? He always seemed to find the gloomy side of everything. I can just imagine what it must have been like spending Thanksgiving Day with him…….

Snow White (in her oh, so sweet voice):  “Good morning grumpy. Happy Thanksgiving.”
Grumpy: “What’s so good about this morning and what do I have to be thankful for?!”
Snow White: Well, the birds are singing, the sun is shining, and you don’t have to work today.”
Grumpy: “Well, the birds are too loud, the sun is giving me a headache it’s so bright, and this is a stupid holiday! I am going to spend the day with 6 misfits in an overcrowded, rundown cottage. Am I supposed to be thankful for that?”
Snow White: “Maybe I could make your favorite breakfast. What would you like to eat for breakfast today?”
Grumpy: “Toast – don’t burn it… Eggs – and I don’t want the yellow hard… bacon – and not too chewy or to crispy… and orange juice – and it better be freshly squeezed, I refuse to drink that concentrated stuff.”
Snow White: “I need to take this oatmeal to Happy and then I’ll start on your breakfast. He isn’t feeling well this morning so I made him stay in bed. Be right back….”
Grumpy: “Well, how do you like that? Just because Happy is a little under the weather he gets “special attention”. Nobody around here appreciates me like they do him! They never give me the time of day; they make me wait for my breakfast. Thanksgiving Day is a big joke…. My life stinks… I wish she would hurry up! I’m hungry!”

I have to be honest though… there are times I have related to Grumpy. Actually, I was feeling that way just a few days ago. Randy was out of town painting a mural, I had received some discouraging news, and my 3 year old and 6 year old would not leave me alone! There was washing to do, dishes to clean, furniture to dust, and deadlines to meet at work. I kept hearing my flesh screaming “What about me! What about me! I need a break from being a mother, wife, minister, friend, housewife, etc.” Needless to say I was having one big pity party, and did not see how it would be possible to obey Phil 2:14 “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” I wanted to be “grumpy!” Can anyone relate?”

Well the first mistake I made was to invite Randy, my husband, to my pity party. He wasn’t even willing to send a gift! Don’t get me wrong, he was very understanding and supportive of my situation, but was not too interested in feeding my attitude of self-pity. So I decide to talk to God about it, He would understand! I found out real quick that God doesn’t attend pity parties either. So I decide to find out what was so wrong with being grumpy and having a pity party.

As I looked up words that related to being grumpy, I came across some very interesting things. Of course we all know the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years, but did you know that some say the journey to the Promised Land should have only taken 11 days? So why in the world did it take them 40 years!

I think it had something to do with the fact that they where related to “Grumpy” and continually threw themselves “Pity Parties.” God was patient with them and blessed them with what would make them happy but it was never enough. So, because of their self-centeredness and ungratefulness they lost out on the blessing of the Promised Land. They where so focused on their immediate wants that they where not able to see the “BIG PICTURE.” I think the following verses will prove it.

Exodus 17:1-7

1 At the LORD's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place. Eventually they came to Rephidim, but there was no water to be found there. 2 So once more the people grumbled and complained to Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded.” Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you arguing with me? And why are you testing the LORD?" 3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, "Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!"

Numbers 11:1

1 The people soon began to complain to the LORD about their hardships;

Numbers 11:4

Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt, and the people of Israel also began to complain. "Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed.

They wanted immediate gratification in the desert, and where not willing to make the sacrifices necessary, during the journey, to make it to the real Promised Land. So God gave them exactly what they “grumbled” for. But the trade off was that they never got to enjoy the true Promised Land, as shown in the next verse:

Numbers 14:27 – 30

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How long will this wicked nation complain about me? I have heard everything the Israelites have been saying. 28 Now tell them this: 'As surely as I live, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. I, the LORD, have spoken! 29 You will all die here in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, none of you who are twenty years old or older and were counted in the census 30 will enter the land I swore to give you.

How often do we do the same thing? How often do we pout and complain until we get what we want at the cost of missing out on our “Promised Land”? Is it possible that living in self-pity and complaining and grumbling can destroy our future blessings?

1 Corinthians 6:10 

Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.10 nor grumble,  as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

When I was at my lowest point of pity, sitting on the couch with a “poor me” attitude I remembered something Randy had tried to encourage me with, and I realized that this was the key to unlock the door and get out of the “jail cell” of self-pity. Do you want to know what his profound words of wisdom where? I thought you did.

He told me to take inventory:

To look around and see everything good in my life. (Trust me if you look hard enough you’ll find at least 3 things.)

To make note of all the great things God has done for me.

To think of how many people I had in my life that love me.

To make the most of now and not waste it.

To put it as simply as possible… I had to CHOOSE to focus on the good in my life.

The bad part about doing this is when you start doing it, sincerely, from your heart, you cannot enjoy your pity party! You cannot continue to complain and grumble, and you tend to forget about how bad life really is!

So I forewarn you now… if you don’t want your pity party crashed don’t take my husband’s advice! It will ruin your party.

The other thing that seems to happen is that you find yourself wanting to praise God and thank Him for who He is and what He does for you. And when you start doing that watch out! Because you are back on track, wanting to serve others, and headed towards your “Promised Land”.