Change Your Life
The Grumble-Free Year by Tricia Goyer is a powerful book that has the power to change your life. For a whole year Tricia Goyer and her family practiced being grateful and tried not to grumble. Their results are recorded within the book.
Grumbling can destroy relationships. It achieves nothing. Having an attitude of gratitude in us will build others up. This book explains what the Goyer family did and what they learned along the way.
Tricia Goyer writes in a personable way. The book feels like a letter from a friend as we eaves drop on the Goyer family. Each chapter ends with reflective questions and suggestions as to how we can live grumble free.
It is important to set goals. We can always choose our responses. So choose joy and do not grumble. Remember “our thoughts are just thoughts, not facts.” Do not let your thoughts drag you down.
We all go through difficult times. “How to be thankful when life is hard and how to love when we’re overwhelmed… it’s not easy.” In the difficult times we need to lift our eyes to God. Our circumstances may not change but our perspective will. “God was worthy to be praised, no matter what.”
It is important to have open hands and hearts towards God. If we are closed, we cannot receive from Him.
When life is good – pray. When life threatens to overwhelm – pray. Prayer is powerful and changes lives.
Tricia Goyer talks about the Glad Game from Pollyanna and suggests playing it. She says “faith is trying to be glad and see the good because God is in control.” There is also the suggestion of having a gratitude jar.
It is good to review our progress. Suggestions that will help are:
- “Things I changed
- Things I still need to change
- Things that helped me change”
Trying to live grumble free may not change our outward lives but there will be an inward transformation. Instead of being destroyed from the inside out by grumbling, develop a joyful, thankful spirit.
The Grumble-Free Year was a powerful book. It was also a book full of common sense. There were scriptures quoted as Tricia Goyer unpacked the heart of God for His children. This is a brilliant book to work through as individuals, as families or in connect groups.
Banish those grumbles and pick up a grateful heart.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON