The Complaining Jar

A few weeks ago, I'd heard enough complaining from one of our children, that I decided to do something drastic.  I took out an empty jar, wrote "Complaining Jar" on a note pad and taped the note to the jar.  I informed all four children that, from that point on, anyone who complained would pay $1.00 into the jar for every complaint.  I'm sad to say that as of today, the jar has over $30 in it!  I'm even sadder to say that I, myself, have had to put some in it.  In fact, I need to go put $3.00 in it right after I write this post.  I'm not proud of that fact or making light of it - just stating the truth:  I have just as big of a problem with complaining as anyone else in this house.  I think that's why I took the drastic measure to make it visible.....with the money jar.

Earlier this week, one of our children commented on how the jar had quite a bit of money in it.  He stated, "Hey!  That money can go towards our next Disney World trip!"  He thought since we have saved change for years for our previous two Disney World trips, that this money would be used for that, too.  I replied, "No.  This money isn't going to be for something for us.  This money is coming from us doing something we shouldn't be doing, so this money is going to someone else - to help them in some way."  In fact, this money will be donated to a family at a benefit dinner this weekend.  I think at that moment "The Complaining Jar" held an even deeper understanding for the kids.

"The Complaining Jar" has made our family more aware of our complaining.  Hopefully as we continue on in this new year, we will see that it is filling up less and less.  When we're complaining, we're certainly not "Shining Like Stars", are we?

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...

Philippians 2:14-15