Enjoy a fresh, new attitude

How important is your attitude?

Once, a friend of mine told me about an optimist and a pessimist. The optimist accidentally spilled a cup of milk on the table and declared . . .

How important is your attitude?

Once, a friend of mine told me about an optimist and a pessimist. The optimist accidentally spilled a cup of milk on the table and declared, “My cup runs over, what a blessing.” When the pessimist experienced the same scenario, he said, “My cup runs over, what a mess!”

Attitude plays a large role in life. It can make or break us. Attitude can allow us to rise above challenges or magnify them. Our attitude can be louder than the words we speak. And can reveal to others our character. Attitude is what governs our entire day.

Yet, perhaps, you’ve been floundering. You’re doing everything you can, but you don’t see anything changing. Things have not gone your way. Time is passing and you’re disheartened and overwhelmed. And despondently you may say to yourself, “I never thought I’d be in this situation,” and “What’s there for me to be happy about now,” as your hopes and dreams for the future appear to be fading.

But you can’t wait until everything is perfect or gets better before you choose to have a good attitude. Rather than talking yourself into being discouraged, you must be thankful for all the blessings you possess and decide to be the very best that you can be ‘right here’ and ‘right where you are’ today. Helen Keller once wrote, “Resolve to keep happy and joyful and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

Take the good from life’s experiences and recharge your thoughts to grasp the positive from each situation. The more optimistic and thankful you are, the more joy, peace, and blessings will come back around to you.

Years ago, I heard a story about a bakery owner who every morning, gathered some of the town’s needy children and gave them each a warm loaf of bread. Rather than being appreciative for the baker’s kindness, many of the children fought over who would get the largest loaf. They complained, were bitter about their present circumstances, and were just out for themselves.

However, there was one little girl in the crowd who had a different attitude. Day after day, patiently, she waited for the others to stop fighting, and she gratefully took the smallest loaf. Then, she thanked the baker and happily brought the loaf home to share with her family.

One day, as her mother was slicing the bread, she found several pieces of silver inside the loaf. Quite surprised, the mother showed her daughter what she discovered in the bread.

So, the next day, as usual, the children went back to the bakery. The little girl, who happened to be the neediest, also returned. Holding out the palm of her hand, the girl revealed the silver coins to the baker and said, “Sir, we found your money inside the loaf of bread that you so generously gave to us. You must have accidently dropped the coins while you were baking the loaf.”

The baker responded, “I did not make a mistake, I put the coins in the smallest loaf of bread as a reward.”

Regardless of what’s going on in your life at the moment, God has so many ways to bless your future. He is not limited by ordinary factors. Thus, do not give into sadness or desperation for what you are facing today. Let the negative things go. And keep your eyes ever upward. Look to God with a positive attitude of gratitude

and continue doing your best, for He will reward you.

Scripture says, “God rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11).

“And in due season, you will reap if you do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Recently, I received a letter from a dear reader who suggested, “It is just a matter of timing. For the blessings are in God’s hands to deliver when He feels it is appropriate. In the meantime, keep thanking Him. Be positive, keep busy, keep striving, have faith and wait for Him to do His awesome work.”

For rest-assured, God is in control; and just as He parted the waters of the Red Sea for Moses, God will bring a miracle to pass for you. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” (Exodus 14:21). Soon, windows of opportunity will swing open, new goals will be accomplished, dreams restored, and you’ll emerge better, stronger, and will reach the fullness of your destiny.

One thing that I do to keep a positive attitude is to write in my ‘gratitude journal.’ Daily, I jot down one or two blessings for which I am grateful. This ritual serves as a reminder to focus on the positives. And, moreover, on challenging days, I reread my gratitude list, and it completely changes my outlook.

Smile, laugh, summon your sense of humor and use your special gifts to help others. Fix your mind on good things; be happy where you are; and appreciate the extraordinary person that God created you to be.

God’s hand is upon you. A day of reward is coming!