“Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago? How did they work out? Didn’t you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn’t most of them turn out all right after all?”  Dale Carnegie

What do you think about when undesirable things happen?

He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward.  (Heb 12:2b; NLT)

Happiness tip #11 reads, “This shall pass. When bad things happen, and you’re having trouble accepting it, think to yourself the same thing the ancients did: ‘This, too, shall pass.’ And it will. And you’ll survive.”  (Again, see 1/4/08 for the complete list of 30 tips.)

What a powerful thought to remember at key times…”This too shall pass.”  I googled the phrase looking for the author and found a wide range of opinions.  Everything from extra-biblical stories of Solomon to Abraham Lincoln.  I concluded that nobody really knows.  Some were even convinced that it was from the Bible, but it’s not.  (That doesn’t mean that the thought is unbiblical, just that the phrase is not found in the Bible.  Big difference.  For example, “Sunday School” is not in the Bible.)  But I digress.  It is a powerful thought to remember when difficulties arise as they inevitably do.

Dale Carnegie’s quote is particularly insightful.  Most of us can’t begin to remember what consumed our thoughts a year ago…probably not even six months ago…maybe not even one month ago.  Some of us have wasted a lot of our precious time on earth worrying about things that never happened.  What a tragedy! 

Far better to follow the example of Christ as shown in the verse in Hebrews.  Think about the prize at the end of the race.  Think about achieving the goal and how you  will feel once you get there.  Remember, your mind cannot hold two thoughts at the same time.  Make the choice to replace your thoughts about the bad you are currently experiencing with the happy thoughts of what life will be like when the prize is yours.  That makes a very empowering choice.  That also gives you the strength to face the new day and press on toward the next phase (intermediate goal) of securing the prize.

Notice how the word “choice” pops up again and again in these discussions.  Choose happy thoughts!

Prayer Power
Dear Lord, please forgive us for wasting Your time and ours unnecessarily by nurturing thoughts that keep us from our assignments.  Give us the grace to focus on the joy that is ahead.

Link of the Day
Helen Steiner Rice

Blessings on you as you resolve to think as many happy thoughts as you can this weekend.