As my husband and I were ready to fly home from our magical trip to Greenland and Iceland yesterday, we got to the airport only to find out our flight had been canceled! We ended up not sitting together on our rebooked flight, which could have upset me, but I learned a long time ago to choose to find the positive, not the negative, in a trial. I ended up sitting next to a man I felt very prompted to talk to…you see, I believe there are no accidents. And that's where the miracle occurred! It all happened because I chose to see the positive instead of the negative.
I chose to repost this #SundayMessage today because of what happened yesterday. Have a beautiful Sunday, and remember, choose joy, love, and life. I love you all so much!!!!
Marie’s Sunday Message
August 25, 2019
Photos can look perfect, but did you know everything isn’t perfect? In fact, everything is “perfectly imperfect!” We make all things that happen to us throughout our lives perfect by our choice and how we desire to see it or learn from it. So, when I ran across this saying this week, I wanted to share it with you.
“Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.”
When you look at the verb in front of the word “happy,” that little verb says it all… “BE.” That’s our action, our choice to do it, and choose to be happy. If it rains on your wedding day, be happy. Why? Because it changes the whole event into something you can smile about instead of cry about. If dinner doesn’t turn out, be happy! There’s always takeout! 😂 Even if you don’t want to be happy, just choose to do it because you can make happiness your default emotion. Sounds too easy? Remember, it doesn’t take skill to see the good side of everything; it just takes practice! We live in a fallen world, and essentially now so much of the news is negative, and then there’s social media, which seems to be filled with amazing lives, clean and tidy homes, and well-behaved toddlers—a harsh contrast to our lives at times. The food presentation is beautiful, and no one goes to Home Depot dirty only to run into their boss from work. 😂 So, with all that going on around you—if you find it’s a personal struggle to see the good side of things—it’s understandable. The key is to remember it takes practice to confront those negative thoughts and “choose” to toss them away and look for the good side. Remember, staying with it can make it a positive habit. My Mom always said, “Marie, if you want to create a habit or break a habit, you can do it in 30 days. Just be consistent for a month!” Wise Mom 🥰❤️
My friend’s grown children moved in with her and her husband over the summer; it was a great experience, and she loved having the extra time with her granddaughter and new grandson. She spent quality time with her daughter-in-law and saw her son as the great husband and father he had become. So now that they are moving on to their new home, what did she think?? She said to me, “I didn’t do enough for them while they were here.” I told her to stop being so tough on herself! Instead of remembering and being grateful for all the positive things that occurred over the summer, she went straight to the negative thoughts. Why do we choose to do that? Ever feel like that? If you have, “see it” for what it is and “choose” the thoughts that only bring peace and joy!
For some, this idea that they can [choose a thought] is revolutionary and maybe even hard to believe. But remember, the Savior is all light, all positive energy! So when we think of Him and choose to be like Him, we gain some of His light and His strength. This, in turn, helps us to “see” more clearly the things we need to choose to find more happiness on our road through life. After all, God said, “Man is that he might have joy.” It says have “joy”; it doesn't say we will always have happy things happen in our lives. The attitude we “choose” to have while we go through the trials makes the difference. And I don't know about you, but I would rather have God on my side than Satan's minions talking in my head, discouraging me, and making me feel worthless.
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Heavenly Father does not walk around heaven sad and morose; He is filled with love and light. So when we lean on and think of Him, we will also carry His love and light in us, which will not leave room for any negative thoughts.
Choose HAPPY, and don’t let anyone or anything take it away from you!! So, like my mom said to me, “Let me know how it goes... in a month!” Right now, I choose not to stress perfection; I choose to make lots of happy memories with my grandkids, messy house or not.
