Too Positive.

"The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started." - Norman Cousins

I have the quote posted above printed and hanging next to my desk at work.  It's a reminder for me. Not only do I have the capacity for hope, but when I have hope, I will also have energy to make it through to my destination.

My husband recently accused me of being "too positive."
You see, he called me very upset about a member of his family being very sick.  He was not only sure this was the end, but already grieving.  You see, my husband is very negative. He sees the bad that can happen- and expects it to. Maybe that's why God paired us.  Because my "overly positive outlook" calmed his nerves, and gave him hope.  But his negative also brings my positive down a notch- reality is things do not always work out the way you hope they would. But at the same time- sometimes they do. My response to his accusation was "I have enough negative in my life- I don't have time to be negative. I must be positive or else I'll never make it through."

We need to stop this obsessive worrying and attempts to predict the future that only God holds. I'm guilty of this. Only God knows His plans for you. He answers every prayer with "Yes", "No", or "Not right now".

"Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it only takes away today's peace." - Unknown.

1 Peter 5:7 tells us "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 
And 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us "and now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love...the greatest of these is Love."

Everyone is going through something.   And whatever it is that you are going through-my prayer for you is that your faith, no matter how small, keeps you grounded; your hope, even if lost, finds you and stays within your reach; and that you know that you are loved.

Try these 3 things every day:

* Smile at least once.  A good laugh is even better. If nothing at home can help you do that- Youtube has some hilarious videos, great comedians.  Find someone, something-- anything. Smile/laugh at least once every day.

* Hug someone.  Your spouse is a good person to hug. Or any family or friend- whoever is around. hug them. At least once every day.  a good hug does wonders for the soul. Hug yourself. "how do you hug yourself?" well- if you already found a reason to smile or laugh- that's one way to hug yourself. but I encourage you to actually wrap your arms around something. It could be a teddybear. we all need a hug.

* Say your prayers.  My 5 year old will say "DON'T FORGET TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS MOMMY!"... She is exactly right. Don't forget to pray. every day. Try, at least once a week, to pray with thankfulness, not hope for something you need/want. Just say thank you.  Jennifer Knapp's version of "Jesus Loves Me" asks the question towards the end "Do you love him? Does He know?  Jesus loves to hear us say, that we love Him every day.".... go ahead. tell God you love him, even if you are really mad at him.  He hears you. He sees you.  And He loves you back.