I have always been an optimist, but when I became a Mother I also experienced depression. So I am always doing things to stay up, to stay optimistic, to see the good. By by filling my life with good, positive, spirit-filled moments with my children, family, and friends, and by sharing those moments here with you, I remind myself that there is good in the world. By looking for the good, I find it.
I found this idea echoed back to me in my reading of "Living in the Eleventh Hour" by Robert L. Millet. In his chapter "Wars and Rumors of Wars," I found his advice both confirming and helpful to me, and maybe it will be for you too.
In speaking about the conditions of the world in these last days, Millet says, "We need not be a Pollyanna to be optimistic about living in difficult times."
(Um, he says Pollyanna like it's a bad thing!) :)
He continues, "Rather, we need simply to realize that moaning and complaining about the evil of our day will do little to improve the world."
Point taken.
Then he wraps the chapter up with this sound advice:
"A passage of scripture that has special appeal to me is from the writings of the apostle Paul: "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
"Paul tells us that we are to focus upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. While we are not to be naive in regard to evil or foolish in regard to unholy influences about us, we are not to fixate upon them or conclude that all is lost. There is too much good to be seen and acknowledged, too much good to be enjoyed and appreciated, too much good to be accomplished by those intent on the salvation of souls. We have no time for despair, no time for feeling sorry for ourselves; we have time only to be about our Father's business."
"Paul tells us that we are to focus upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. While we are not to be naive in regard to evil or foolish in regard to unholy influences about us, we are not to fixate upon them or conclude that all is lost. There is too much good to be seen and acknowledged, too much good to be enjoyed and appreciated, too much good to be accomplished by those intent on the salvation of souls. We have no time for despair, no time for feeling sorry for ourselves; we have time only to be about our Father's business."
Hopefully, I can always make this my mantra, to call attention to those things that are true and pure and lovely and virtuous, and not despair, but "be about my Father's business."
There are plenty of other gems of advice that make this book worth the read, as each chapter delves briefly into such topics as why the Lord allows the wheat and tares to grow together, why it is our personal responsibility to keep our own lamps of testimony filled, and how to avoid being deceived by the precepts of men in the last days.
I look forward to giving it another read...right after I watch Pollyanna again, and play a few rounds of the Glad Game.
There are plenty of other gems of advice that make this book worth the read, as each chapter delves briefly into such topics as why the Lord allows the wheat and tares to grow together, why it is our personal responsibility to keep our own lamps of testimony filled, and how to avoid being deceived by the precepts of men in the last days.
I look forward to giving it another read...right after I watch Pollyanna again, and play a few rounds of the Glad Game.
