It Is Our Choice

In the 2008 Daily Guideposts today, Marilyn Morgan King quotes her mother "Always remember this: No matter how bad things may seem, if you look with your heart you will find something to be glad about". I would think that the corollary, "No matter how good things may seem, you can find something to be upset about" is also true. It appears to me that we are back to the half-full versus the half-empty outlook on life discussion. We choose ourselves, whether to find the good or bad about a person, place, thing, or situation. If our focus is on the bad, we will find the bad. If our focus is on the good, we will find the good.

It amazes me how much attitude plays in our well-being. I have seen people literally make themselves ill by worrying about something they have no control over. I have always tried to live my life with the philosophy of "If you can do something about it, do it! If you can't do something about it, then let it go!"

The economy is in the tank right now, and based on projections from our governmental leaders and most economists, it will most likely get even worse. It seems like every generation has to live through a depression. Depressions always seems to come after periods of prosperity, which make them even harder to accept. We need to take those actions we can in our personal finances that will help protect our future and then let it go. If God's plan for us is to have us struggle for food, clothing, and housing, then we are probably going to struggle for those things. But I hope we will not be be forced to do that. We are probably going to have to give up non-essentials and even have to re-define what truly is essential. Once that is done, we need to get back to appreciating what God has provided.

We are given a choice once again. Complain about what we have lost, or praise God for what we still have. I think the latter is the better choice.