The Grumble-Free Year by Tricia Goyer

Twelve months, eleven family members, and one impossible goal

First off, how fun is that cover? Rain and sunshine, so fitting for grumbling, right? Or not grumbling? I just think this is a fun looking cover.

Calling it a social experiment and a book contract, Tricia joins forces with her husband, John, their 8 children still at home, and her grandma who lives with them, but has dementia, to try a year of no grumbling.  How can this possibly work?  When you embark upon an experiment like this, you have no idea what the end result will be, but however it ends, there will be a book about it.  Tricia hopes, before starting the experiment, that this will be a real example to other moms about her skills and intentionality with her children, but realizes very shortly that there is so much more to this. This experiment becomes about changing from the inside, it becomes about letting God be in control, it becomes not a year completely free of grumbling, but a year in which attitudes are investigated, hearts are changed, and grumbling becomes more infrequent.

Because while this project would be hard, in and of itself, let's add in some medical emergencies that tie the family down and reduces the extracurricular family activities or even sports activities that would normally be a part of their life. Let's add in the need for extra and extended help that is required to get through this season and you have an atmosphere ripe for grumbling. And yet, dear Grandma teaches them all a lesson. Despite her dementia, she remembers to praise the Lord. I thought it was the sweetest thing and shows Grandma's focus in life when she was alert and oriented.

"If we had to schedule turning points, we never would - who wants to schedule a crisis? Yet maybe they're what we need once in a while, just to get everyone focused on what really matters."  This is so true. Along with that is another quote I found fitting: "When you look down at your feet during trials, what do you find yourself standing on?" Am I standing on Jesus Christ as my Rock and Fortress or am I standing on me and hoping I don't tip myself off?

I really enjoyed this book and found it quite fitting for this stage of quarantine, when it would be so easy to grumble and complain about the disruption to our lifestyles and comfort levels. And yet, as the book suggests we say about everything, there is really nothing to grumble about.  I was challenged to seek out praise and gratitude for everything instead of pouting and grumbling.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.