Big Girls Don't Whine

            I finished an inspiring book today and wanted to share some fabulous nuggets with you. My only regret as my heart took in the last page, was that I hadn't read this book sooner... like 20 years sooner!
 But one characteristic of a Big Girl is that she is always maturing, always teachable, always Growing Up and choosing to do so well.

I taught a Sunday school class a few years back that I entitled, The Women I am Becoming. The main point I shared with the women was that with each fleeting day, each year that quickly passes by, we are guaranteed one thing...
we are growing older but that does not mean we are Growing Up. 
 If there is one thing my 40 years have taught me, its that there is a chasm between the two. We grow old whether we want to or chose to, but
Growing Up is entirely up to us.

 In her book, Big Girls Don't Whine, Jan Silivious says this:

 "Every little Girl wants to be a big girl. But once we've grown up and life becomes stressful, it's easy to revert to little girl behaviour-pouting, neediness, manipulation, even whining.

 But God, who loves all his girls, never intended us to stay little. And women who cling to little girl ways miss out on the joys of being the confident productive women God intends us to be."

 It's easy to whine isn't it? It works... or so we think. We get the reaction or help we are after, the attention our neediness demands. But we don't realize we are behaving like little girls, and that prevents us from experiencing the Big Girl Life.
We are sabotaging ourselves and worse, frustrating those around us.
We all know Little Girls walking around in Big Girl bodies.
 There is little else as unattractive as an adult women acting like a child.
The bad new is that as humans we do not magically mature! 1 Cor 13:11 puts it this way, "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does.

But when I grew up, I put away childish things."

 Have you? Have I?

 Have we put away childish things, childish reasoning, thoughts, behavior and speech?

As our kids get older we intentionally force them to put some things away... the pacifier, the bottle, the diapers, the crib, the stroller, the training wheels, the afternoon nap... we engage our children on the painful, yet neccsary and freeing process of Growing Up by putting things they have outgrown (or should outgrow) behind them.
It's not easy. This takes strength, love, and determination,
 but to miss this process would be crippling.

Are we walking around crippled because our maturing-putting things away- process has ceased?

It's time... to once again Grow up into Maturity and Fullness in Christ.

 I've listed some differences between Big Girls and Little Girls. See if you can identify yourself.  

 Consider this both an urgent and  irresistible invitation to discover the freedom, blessing, joy, wholeness, effectiveness, and legacy of living life as a Big Girl.

Little Girls are moody.

Little Girls manage to make every situation all about them.

Little Girls lack perspective.

Little Girls shoot arrows that wound.

Little Girls make other people responsible for their happiness, including their husband and children.

Little Girls lack wisdom, insight and discretion.

Little Girls have a hard time embracing motherhood.

Little Girls have rebellious spirits.

Little Girls are seldom content.

Little Girls pout, whine and draw attention to themselves.

Little Girls are fragile.

Little Girls have a hard time getting along when they don't get their way.

Little Girls expect  life to be a fairy tale.

Little Girls gossip, are jealous, and thrive on constant crisis.

Little Girls have a difficult time rejoicing with those who rejoice.

Little Girls are high maintenance.

Big Girls on the other hand, radiate inner beauty that is attractive to all she encounters.

Big Girls bless and encourage those around them.

Big Girls embrace life as a mom and wife.

Big Girls are non-demanding of both their family and friends.

Big Girls share their friends with their friends.

Big Girls watch their words and their tone carefully.

Big Girls accept that life will bring suffering.

Big Girls are careful about what they think upon.

Big Girls create beauty.

Big Girls know their abilities, bless their families, and fulfill their roles without complaint.

Big Girl moms know they don't raise their kids for themselves.

Big Girls are not easily hurt. They let things go.

Big Girls don't need all the attention.

Big Girls know that pouting doesn't work and that disappointments are part of life.

Big Girls pave a path worthy of following.

Big Girls handle crisis with peace.

Big Girls don't need everyone to know.

Big Girls love Jesus more than anything else...including themselves.

Big Girls meditate on God's Word.

Big Girls don't waste their days on worry. They embrace life fully.

Big Girls are secure, confident in their own skin and optimistic.

Big Girls are teachable. They are open to rebuke. 

Big Girls enjoy life's little blessings. They are marked with gratitude.

                                  Big Girls don't allow circumstances or people to steal her joy.

                                                        Big Girls are kind and gracious.

A Big Girls presence is a present to others.

Big Girls are trusted  friends.

Big Girls live life like they know they are leaving a legacy to those behind them.

 

Big Girls conduct themselves like they are daughters of the King...and that knowledge frees them up to dance with grace, dignity, beauty and humility.

 Blessings upon you, dear one, as you pursue this Grown Up living...this Big Girl kind of life. Resolve to put away your childish ways...everyone around you will be grateful you did, you will be grateful you did and your Father God will be incredibly pleased with you and delighted in you... and that's simply the best reward and reason of all.

With Gratitude for you and Blessings heaped upon you,

Amy Joy