Monday; December 1
It seems like when I was younger and I would complain that I was upset, the advice I got from my household was, “well, get happy”. On first blush, this appears to be unfeeling, but I believe that the older I get, the more I appreciate what I was being taught. For the most part, I am the one who got to choose my attitude, so I could choose to be happy or upset. I was the one who applied emotion to my situation, so it was up to me to make the most of the moment. When I look back on my life, I realize just how true this is. I can choose to be grumpy, or I can choose to rejoice. I can let things get me down or I can overcome the events (and emotions) of the day and be positive. Interestingly, this is not just a lesson in emotional health, it also has a spiritual nature to it. Centuries ago, the people of God were encouraged, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). How is y...