Life is Good!

     Today, I challenge everyone to look not at the negatives of their individual lives, but rather focus on a positive.

It is virtually impossible not to find one good thing in even the most challenging of situations.   I keep thinking about a Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital radio telethon on a local station, last year.  It was impossible not to detect  thankfulness in parents’ voices for the care their child had received while at St. Jude.   For those who do not know, this is a hospital that treats children with life threatening diseases and never, I repeat NEVER, turns away a child whose family is unable to afford the cost of the treatment.  It is one of my personal favorite organizations for many reasons.  But what hit me particularly hard was a parent, on air, who was saying that each and everytime they bring their young daughter there for Chemotherapy, when the treatment is over… she wants to stay and play… “because they are so nice there.”    The child may or may not survive her ordeal, but both she and the parents seem to get that there is always a positive in even the toughest of circumstances. I admire them.

Look at your own life.  Find the celebration.    Sue

Lenten Positive Practices: Blessings overrule Life’s Tests

AMAZING GRACE!

It can’t be said enough…as challenging as each of our own current situations might be…there is always someone who faces a greater challenge. Our newest world tragedy, is the devastation facing the children of several African countries (KONY 2012).   Americans will need to lend support in many ways.  Let’s face it, if you are reading this blog, you not only can read, but have access to a computer. If you are inside… removed from the pouring rain in the southeast, that amazingly still shows the remnants of hurricane Katrina several years ago, or the continuous unstable weather in the plains states, or fires and continuous earthquake threats in California, you are also blessed.  And yes, if those weather patterns are meaningful to you… then you most likely  live in the United States or immediate vicinities.  We are blessed when we live in an environment that has consistantly allowed us to renew,  redo, or rebuild our lives.  This is regardless of tests and challenges.

This country affords all so many opportunities and a quality of life that’s beyond compare.  But, with that said: There are so many this year who will feel “un” thankful because they have lost jobs and/or their homes, are deep in credit woes and can’t pay current bills ( let alone prepare for the months ahead), or might even have a loved one in the Armed Forces where there is always uncertainty. Personally, I continue to pray and believe that someone in my own immediate family will find their way to a better life.  Yes, life is filled with tests and challenges, but also filled with abundant wonder and goodness.

      All of these are real tests in real times.  I challenge everyone to look not at the negatives in their individual lives, but rather look at all the wonders of  your life. It matters not our individual challenges at this time, but rather our individual gifts; they are abundant.  Look at them from an outsider’s perspective.  The cup overflows.

sue