Mrs. Grumpty complained bitterly because her friends seemed to avoid her, and she just couldn't understand why. If only she could have heard a recording of her own voice, she would have known the reason for her unpopularity. She always talked about her complaints, weaknesses, aches and pains, and insisted on relating in wearying detail her stay in the hospital.

If you want to keep friends, don't be a grumbler. Most people have enough problems of their own and don't need to hear all of yours.

In one of the churches I pastored, a dear old soul expected me to visit her at least once a week. I don't know of a visit in my entire ministry that I dreaded as much as that one. Every week she insisted on entertaining me with a recital of her five surgeries. She never expressed happiness and joy for her current good health or her wonderful recovery, but she always went back to her days of suffering. She seemed to "enjoy" poor health. Incidentally, she lived many more years. She reminds me of the saying: "A creaking wagon will last the longest."

Today, fix your eyes on the doughnut, not on the hole. Share your joys with others, and leave your troubles with the Lord.  —M. R. De Haan, M.D.  — M.R. De Haan