It might be putting it mildly to say I’m a Buckeye fan. Last night as I watched the game I kept thinking of the work I absolutely had to do. So even though my team was behind, I hit the record button, intending to watch the rest of the game later. I knew the truth about my team-they may be down right now, but it’s not over yet. I tried not to think about the game, but as I left work I had to check the score on my phone. Imagine my delight to see my team had made a huge comeback and won the game by a point! Later, as I watched the two teams battle, I was able to relax, because I knew how it ended. But the commentators didn’t-they were so negative towards whatever team was struggling. Why is it easier to talk about the negative than it is to focus on the positive?
When things around us are off balance, we need to remember: it’s not over yet. We don’t have to focus on the negative in any situation because it will just bring us down. Although it’s easier to look at the negative, we can rely on God’s strength to focus on the positive. “…Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10 NLT) Sometimes that means we have to tune out the negative people around us and tightly grab ahold of good thoughts. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV) If we only look at what’s wrong in our lives, we’ll miss all the things that are right. So next time we get caught in the ‘rain’, let’s take the time to look for the rainbow.
Things to do today:
- Think good thoughts.
- You can also click on the blue lines above for an uplifting song and another blog about being positive: The Comeback and Think Good Thoughts
Although waterfalls face constant opposition, they just keep going. My friends and I saw dozens of them on our trip to Maui, each unique and breathtaking in their own right. One thing the waterfalls had in common: they all had to push through obstacles to reach the zenith of their destiny. One waterfall was hidden deep in the woods where tree branches and rocks in the river fought to slow the cascade. Another time, we hiked 2 miles through a bamboo forest to see the determined descent of a mountain’s waterfall. Others climbed over boulders, fought past rocky ledges, and crashed around manmade obstructions. Nonetheless, they all kept going, displaying their beauty and their strength.
My family is camping near Lake Erie and we’re hoping for a bright and sunny day today. After raining all day yesterday, it looked like today would follow suit. The skies were overcast in the morning. There was a light drizzle and absolutely no sun to see in the early morning hours. We were wondering what we would do inside all day trying to entertain family from 3 years old to age 76. But midmorning changed our thinking completely. The sun began to burn away the clouds and by afternoon we had a full sky of sunshine and plenty of fun activities on tap. It’s amazing how one moment in time can change everything.