The sky is overcast today and the temperatures are hovering somewhere around the mid-forties, making it a pretty chilly spring day in Buffalo. But Friday, skies were sunny and clear, and the kids took advantage of the lovely weather. For hours, they played in the backyard, dug for worms, and had a grand old time doing all the stuff kids like to do outdoors.
5 year old Kaleb, my future horticulturalist, took great pleasure, as he always does, in studying the plants, grass, and landscape of the yard. After a while, he strolled over to me and said, "These are for you mommy," handing me a handful of muddy flowers he had plucked from alongside the house.
"I like the yellow flowers," he exclaimed with a smile, referencing a few dandelions mixed in the bunch. In Kaleb's eyes, dandelions are gorgeous, vibrant blossoms, that make a perfect gift for his dear mother. For me, the sight of them is an indication that the grass needs to be treated to get rid of the water-hogging, nutrient-stealing, lawn-invading weeds. For others, dandelions are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. The leaves of dandelions can even be used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas.
There are so many uses for them; I could go on and on.
But, depending on who you talk to, dandelions are nothing more than useless, annoying weeds.
As I I hugged my adorable dirt-covered son and thanked him for being so kind, I was really touched that he had thought of me. In that moment, dandelions didn't represent weeds, but the pure love of a child, which is a tremendous blessing.
So many times, we miss opportunities to see the good things, even though they might not be perfect. It can be so easy to zone in on all that is negative, wrong, and undesirable in our lives. But, when we accept the fact that good and bad co-exist and yet, choose to focus on the good, that's when we experience the true joy of life.
After all, if we wait until everything is perfect before we celebrate and rejoice, we will never be joyful. So today, I want to put some "positivity" in your daily cup to help you "weed out" negative thinking. Join me in choosing to focus on the good. Does that mean everything is good?
No.
In fact, I'm typing this blog post from the hospital waiting room. My mom has another infection and has to have surgery right away. Rather than panicking and dwelling on the negative aspects of this situation, I choose to thank God that the doctors quickly discovered the source of the issue. Now the problem can be rectified and mom can continue on her road to recovery from breast cancer.
Again, learn how to see the good in things, even when they aren't perfect. The Bible says in Philippians 4:8 (NIV), "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
TODAY'S PRAYER: God, thank You for my life and all the many blessings in it. Even though there are problems and situations I'm facing right now, help me realize that the good far outweighs the bad. And during those times when I have trouble seeing the silver lining in the clouds, let me be comforted by Your unfailing love and compassion toward me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
