Whine flu epidemic

We've had a whining problem at our house, and I had WAY too much time to think on our five hour drive home from Cache Valley last night, so I came up with this FHE lesson:

For the rest of this week, when we hear whining, we will raise the red yarn on the "whineometer", and the guilty party will have to take a "Gratiflu tablet", write down what they are thankful for, and place it in the "glass of water" pocket.

For example, if the room is just "too messy to clean" then we will be grateful to have so many toys.

And if we wish for ice cream, instead of crackers,for our after-school snack, then we will be grateful just to have food.

And my personal favorite from last week: If someone simply cannot participate in family scripture study because he "wants to sit right here" and his scriptures are "way over there" then we will be grateful that we have legs to walk all the way across the livingroom to get them.

For the lesson part, we will talk about how the Savior set the perfect example for us, by submitting to the will of Heavenly Father during his greatest trial by saying, “Father, if thou be willing remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Jesus trusted that Heavenly Father knew best.

Sometimes we get upset when things don't go the way we want them to, and we whine or complain. We need to learn to recognize our blessings during those difficult times.

Whining or complaining shows ingratitude. We will use examples (like the ones above) to help everyone recognize blessings amid their trials.

Just as we wash our hands to prevent germs, we can prevent whining and ingratitude by counting our blessings.