Category: Positive outlook

I don’t know about you, but lately I am “up to here” with endless accounts of corruption, name-calling and reasons to be fearful.

If I were one of the characters in an old cowboy movie, I might say, “Ah hanker to hear somethin’ good.”

In those movies two sunburned cowhands might be looking up at a fiery sunset. One would spit out the blade of grass between his teeth and say, “Well, sure, Shorty. Reckon Ah ‘kin do that.”

Maybe he’d stretch long and tall, then pick up his guitar and sing a song with a catchy refrain. It might even be the song many of us learned as children. Remember?

“Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play.

“Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.”

Nobody cared whether that cowboy-turned-philosopher could sing. He had heart. Hearing words like that lifted our hearts and made us thankful to live in such a great Country.

Maybe we should start a movement right where we are

The only qualification for membership is that we focus on what’s right–and talk about it.

Let’s not stop there. Let’s be the ones who speak the good word, whether to our children and grandchildren or to our friends and neighbors.

Most of us can think of a time when we were scraping the bottom of our ability to cope. When someone quietly spoke hope to us. How? Keep it simple, something like, “I know it will work out for you. Remember, I’m praying for you and I’m ready to listen any time.”

People can live a long time on one encouraging remark.

One quality which unites us, rich or poor, young or old

Every one of us, whatever our age, longs to hear words like these:

“I believe in you.”

“You’re working hard and that always pays off, even when it takes awhile.”

“Of course you’ll make it through this. Look at all you have going for you.”

“I can see you’re learning and growing. That’s the best way to reach your goals.”

“I know you’ll find a job and who knows? It may be the best job you ever had.”

“God is faithful and He will carry you through this.”

Who needs words like these?

Truett Cathy, the founder of the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain, put it this way.

“How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they’re breathing.”

The great thing about lifting another person’s mood is that it raises our spirits, too. Before long we start getting back what we’ve been giving out. Other people find us easy to be around.

It means we focus on the possible, not the impossible.

More often than seems logical, the difference between who succeeds and who fails is that one believes they will and the other hopes they will.

What made the difference? Someone planted that vision, probably more than once. Then the planter watered it with repetition, love and encouragement.

King Solomon talked about that long ago

He’s the one who wrote these words:

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  –Proverbs 12:25

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. –Proverbs 16:24

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. –Proverbs 25:11

Our heartfelt words can change night into day for someone else. God promises to hear us when we pray for guidance and courage to reach out.

Let’s vow to throw out dark, discouraging words and substitute words that bring sunshine instead of clouds. Let’s resolve to lift hearts instead of feeding the despair all around us. Here’s what we do know for sure:

Even if we can’t change the world, we can affect the climate where we live. After all, we hear every word we say. This means we can give our own hearts a lift, too. Doesn’t that make it worth a try?

Working on it, too,

Lenore
How Do We Stay Up in a Down World?

January 21, 2026
I know, it sounds too simple, but then, most principles of life boil down to simple, don’t they?

It took me way too long to understand that sticking to these three attitudes toward life can eliminate much of what we call “stress”.

Here’s what I came up with for now.

1. Get real.

2. Get focused.

3. Get thankful.

Curious? Read on.

Get real. We ought not expect the people around us to be on our wave length. They’re individuals, remember?

So are the people we’re closest to. So it shouldn’t surprise us if they don’t immediately grasp the meaning of what we say to them. And vice versa. This explains why any two people so often talk past each other.

I well remember the first time I gave my husband one of those “poor little me” remarks, thinking my groom would understand and see my point. Instead, he replied, “Honey, you’re only disappointed because you expected me to do that and I didn’t. But you never asked or even hinted. How was I supposed to know what you wanted?”

Once I got over being annoyed I realized my practical guy was right. Like many women I value spontaneous gestures and like most men, he wasn’t wired that way.

A small bit of common sense reminds us that flowery gestures come cheap–and can be empty. A good marriage thrives on honesty, faithfulness and loving through whatever comes. So does any close relationship or friendship.

Getting real means steering clear of comparisons and if onlys, too. That’s harder to do in the face of social media and because we stare at screens so much of the time.

It’s time we engrave this on the hard drive of our minds:

Except for live interviews and action shots, everything we see on TV or on Facebook, Instagram, and the like has been carefully staged.

(Think about it. Would you post a photo or video depicting your family and yourself in the midst of a bad day?)

Nevertheless, distractions like TV shows and social media can be enticing traps. We look at what’s onscreen and then contemplate our “imperfect” lives and get depressed.

We get depressed because we forget that we see only what they want us to see.

2. Get focused

Whether we realize it or not, we constantly telegraph–and pick up–messages by what we focus on.

I saw that play out at lunchtime one day. At the next table a dad and his little girl, maybe four years old, were having lunch. Throughout their meal Daddy talked with his daughter and she talked back, with lots of smiles and giggles. He picked her up when they finished and she buried her face in his neck. He carried her out and both were grinning from ear to ear.

Tables around them held other couples and families, everyone engrossed in their smart phones or electronic gadgets and grabbing bites. Nobody smiled and nobody talked to anybody, at least not to any live person sitting at the same table. When they finished eating they simply got up and walked out, still focused on their electronic gadgets. I doubt I could have counted five smiles among that group.

The contrast pained my heart. The daddy and daughter deepened their relationship and enhanced their family’s strength and love. The others, the ones who hardly spoke to each other, satisfied their hunger and their curiosity of the moment. Nothing more.

I’ll not forget that day because it felt as if I were observing a case study in the ways people interact with others. Or lack of same.

That lunchtime drove home an important truth for me: What and whom we focus on plays a huge part in our moods and how we view our lives.

3. Get thankful

For some of us progress may be slow, but to simply be thankful can become a habit. I truly believe that.

I’ve been working for years to learn the art of tuning my awareness toward the good rather than getting hung up on what I perceive as life’s insufficiencies or annoyances. I don’t have it nailed yet, but I’ve made progress. I see the difference in my moods and outlook on life.

I know now how much it lifts my mood all day if I start by thanking God for what is and ask His strength and blessing for the day.

At bedtime I wrap up the day by thanking the Giver and naming the good, ending with a simple, “Thank you, Lord.” Then I commit to God’s loving care the people I’m concerned about and whatever troubles me. Most of the time that helps me drift off to sleep with a smile.

As always, the Bible shows us how:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Philippians 4:8

That last verse from Philippians spells out the best and most stable places to park our thoughts.

Once we learn to fix our thoughts on what is real and what is right in our lives and in the people we love, living more happily naturally follows. Instead of scowling and complaining about what’s wrong with the world, we can fasten on God’s goodness in the midst of it all–and smile.

(Besides, they say smiling helps stave off wrinkles.)

Still learning,

Lenore
Three simple steps to living more happily

November 7, 2025
Are you tired of the way your day-to-day life has been lately?

Here’s the good news: Getting unstuck appears much more complicated than it really is. Here’s the three-word formula:

Change. Your. Thoughts.

I know, I know, that sounds too simple. I might not believe it, either, if I hadn’t lived it.

It started when our children were young. Back then my mood would depend on circumstances. Maybe the skies were gray and it was raining. Or the baby wouldn’t stop wailing. Or my husband seemed anxious about goodness-knows-what. (No wonder I was cranky.)

I apologized, of course, usually saying something like: “Sorry, Hon, I can’t help it. That’s just the way I’ve always been.”

One day the truth hit me. That tiresome statement had become my excuse.

I knew it was time for a turnaround. But how?

Enter “The Worry Clinic”

Our daily newspaper began running a syndicated column by the late Dr. George Crane three times a week. His style of conveying mental health tips immediately spoke to me, so I devoured every word, all while carrying on a running argument with him in my mind.

Dr. Crane, a trained psychologist and a physician, described his advice as “old-fashioned horse sense,” a.k.a. common sense.

He repeated this statement often:

Act the way you want to feel and soon you’ll feel the way you act.

The first time I read that it made no sense to me, but it opened my mind a crack. As time went on I began to see the truth of his words. It boiled down to:

Our emotions flow out of what we think.

Here’s how Dr. Crane explained the process:

You can change your thoughts as easily as you change stations on your radio or channels on your television sets. It involves deliberately switching your mind to another topic–and it can be learned.

All it takes is practice.

That bumped me up against an uncomfortable truth. I kind of liked being able to excuse myself with, “I can’t help it. That’s who I am.”

What shocked me more was to see that my moods rubbed off on our four young daughters. They had become star copycats of their mournful mom.

And my sweet husband, loving us, lived patiently with all five of us.

I resolved to change

Dr. Crane primed readers not to expect an overnight transformation. Just as the captain of an ocean liner cannot turn the huge ship 180 degrees all at once, neither should we expect to do a 180 all at once.

The only way to do it was to deliberately master one degree at a time and then repeat that maneuver 180 times.

Would it take awhile? Yes. Would it be worth it? Yes!

Always before, I prayed for God to change me, then waited for change to happen. Now I understood I also needed to act in faith.

That is, I needed to pray and trust, but also behave as if God already answered my prayer and changed me. As time went on these actions began to feel “natural.”

Over time these small, incremental moves paid off. Our home became a happier place.

For all six of us.

Branching out

As a Christian it reassured me to read this remark of Dr. Crane, who was an M.D. and also a doctor of psychology and psychiatry:

“I gleaned more practical psychology and psychiatry from the Bible than from all other books!”

By now I wanted to learn more and read more, but I didn’t want to lose my way. I needed a solid understanding of what the Bible says so I could evaluate what I read or saw in the media. I became more serious about reading the Bible and scribbled notes and underlined verses that spoke to me.

In those pre-Internet days I dug into the shelves of our public library and frequently brought home stacks of books on personal growth, marriage and parenting. When something hit home I wrote it down. Older books, newer books, it didn’t matter. I devised my own criteria.

–Did the principles in this book conflict with what I believed as a Christian or with my personal values? (If so I set it aside.)

–Did the author sound in touch with real people or rely on jargon?

I picked up bits of knowledge and wise advice from a host of good, qualified authors and counselors. Each one helped me grow.

After years of reading and living, here’s what I know is true

The circumstances of our lives do not determine our mindset. What matters most happens between our ears.

We can manage our emotions because they flow out of what we feed our minds, just as Dr. Crane said.

Sound thinking is not enough. We also must invest our time and our will to make the changes we need.

It’s not uncommon to have the “want to,” but think we’re not making progress in changing our habits. If trying to change is a continuing struggle it’s time to talk to your pastor or a trustworthy professional counselor.

Whatever it takes, every bit of progress we make is still a win.

Staying on track for the long haul

It is a daunting task to set out to change oneself from the inside out and it takes time to change old patterns of thinking. What helped me most was reminding myself often that my best Friend, Jesus Christ, never left me to struggle on my own.

Here are some of the Bible verses that spoke to my heart–and still do:

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 26:3

It sounds too simple, but it’s true: You can change how you feel about your life by watching where you park your mind.

Lenore
Here’s a no-cost way to make each day better

July 11, 2025
Did you ever notice how reality can poke holes in our positive outlook on life?

As when we're patting ourselves on the back for something and right away, our self-image takes a nose-dive.

Maybe I drop a cup of coffee and have to clean up the mess. Or I hit the wrong key and delete a piece of writing I'd been working on. More often, it's my balky computer acting up.

Small things, really. Just the drip, drip, drip of daily life.

Some days such "small things"–for no particular reason–feel like the proverbial straw the camel couldn't manage.

"Minor" can feel major when we're already maxed out on coping

Think of someone you know who's been slogging through hard territory for awhile and they're worn out. Every day it takes all they've got just to keep going. They seldom complain, but you can see it in their eyes.

It's not that they lack faith or internal strength. They're simply exhausted from pushing themselves to keep going.

It may be a person who every day deals with an illness or a health challenge that goes on and on. Or they may be the caregiver for a loved one.

If we pay careful attention we get glimpses of their inner struggles.

Just living our lives can take everything we've got

A lot of moms and dads feel weary to the bone. Some are able to work from home and thankful for that, but it's never easy in the midst of family life. Dedicated parents who try to home-school their kids often feel maxed out on coping.

Besides all that, the future feels uncertain, even in the best of times.

Through it all, loving husbands and wives and moms and dads try to be all bright and shiny for their spouses and their children.

In every situation we get to choose

Are you facing a challenge right now and feel pushed to your limits?

We've all been there at some time in life. Some of us are good at lecturing ourselves to be courageous, to never show strain, etc.

(That seldom helps, does it?)

I've come to realize that the quiet people who just keep doing what they have to do–whatever the reason–are the real heroes of life.

A couple of years ago I found this quote and it changed the way I thought about the meaning of strength. Perhaps it will speak to your heart, too.

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do; but to hold it together when everyone would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength. -Unknown

Always, it's the same question: Now what?

If that's our life, how are we to endure?

To paraphrase that old song, we "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again."

How do we do that? For me it's by making myself slow down so I open my eyes to what is, rather than bemoaning what's lost.

If we tune our hearts to see and hear we'll notice the small joys that punctuate every day.

Most of life consists of the ordinary and routine. If that sounds dull, turn the coin over and realize it's also comfortable and reassuring.

The trick is to rejoice over what is

Don't stop there. Let's make the most of what we have while we have it. It's as the writer of Psalm 118 put it, in verse 24:

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Every morning we can rejoice because God is with us another day. Then tomorrow, we do it all over again.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7 LNT

That's the only way I know to have more "up" days and fewer of the other kind.

(Working on living this, too,)

Lenore

Don’t let a string of “down days” get you down

February 13, 2025
Have you ever said to yourself, "I wish something would happen!"

Consider that reckless thinking. That "something" may turn out to be scary.

Take the time I did my usual breast self-exam and felt a tiny lump the size of a BB. I didn't remember feeling anything before. Next came the mammogram, then the "maybe" verdict, then the biopsy.

Boy, did that un-bore me fast!

Thanks be, the final verdict pronounced it benign.

Sometimes it's a phone call you never wanted to have

Like the morning one of our daughters, college age, called with a plaintive note in her voice, "Is Dad there? I need to talk to him… ."

If you've had young drivers of your own you can guess the reason why. This time another driver, uninsured, had rear-ended her car. That young man pushed her into the stopped car ahead of her at a busy Los Angeles intersection. Now she was scared and stranded because her car had been towed away.

Thank God that although she was shaken up, she was spared serious injuries.

In the weeks of repair time that followed the rest of us were one car short. One "benefit"–nobody at our house was bored.

More bad news came a couple of weeks later

A weighty, cream-colored envelope arrived. It bore the name and prestigious address of a Beverly Hills attorney. He wrote to inform us his firm was representing the other driver, someone with an unpronounceable name who was in the U.S. on a student visa. The bottom line of that letter? They intended to sue our daughter.

Can you imagine our outrage? Our daughter was panicked and we weren't far behind as we ran through all the what ifs that came to mind.

At last came common sense and we contacted our insurance company.

End of story.

Periods of fear and uncertainty can happen to us all

Those are the times we wish we could go back to yesterday or the day before.

Back to a day when if someone asked, "How was your day?" we could answer, "Oh, it's been just a normal day, kind of boring, really. Nothing much happened."

If we've had a lengthy string of days like that we may even feel a bit sorry for ourselves. After all, don't we deserve a bit of excitement of our own?

Been there, done that–and it never brings me joy to start going down that track.

Words to lift our spirits

I have no idea who Mary Jean Iron is, but I think her words pack a hefty meaning.

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

In verse 24 of Psalm 118 we find the unshakable reason to consider every day a good day:

This is the day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I'm thinking these two together amount to great advice because one fact is inescapable. This day is the only day we really have.

So whatever else is going on–or not going on in our days, let's rejoice that we're still breathing, still standing. Let's thank God we're alive and celebrate every minute of every day!

Blessings and peace and joy,

Lenore

Another Same Old, Same Old Day? Then Celebrate!

September 5, 2024
Some people wish they lived in "simpler times." They picture themselves reclining on couches or sitting on cool wraparound porches, sipping cool lemonade.

It must have been idyllic, they tell themselves. But was it?

Maybe not. Years ago our family visited a museum where I picked up a small souvenir parchment, an exact copy of one pioneer mother's laundry instructions to her soon-to-be-married daughter.

Mama's Wash Receipt

1. Bild a fire in back yard to heet kettle of rain rater.

2. Set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert.

3. Shave one hole cake of lie sope in bilin water.

4. Sort things. Make three piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile cullord, 1 pile work britches and rags.

5. Stir flour in cold water to smooth, then thin down with bilin water.

6. Rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then bile. Rub cullord, but don't bile–just rench and starch.

7. Take white things out of kettle with broom handle, then rench, blew and starch.

8. Spred tee towels on grass.

9. Hang old rags on the fence.

10. Pore rench water on flower bed.

11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

12. Turn tub upside down.

13. Go put on clean dress–smooth hair with side combs.

14. Brew cup of tea–set and rest and rock a spell and count yer blessings.

(Do you still want to swap your automatic washer and dryer for the "romance" of living long ago?)

Let's not stop with laundry

A friend sent this to me, assorted random facts from 1910:

♦ Average life expectancy for men: 48 years

♦ Old Glory featured only 45 stars

♦ Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea had not been invented

♦ Official Mother's Day or Father's Day? Not then

♦ The bra would not be patented until 1914

♦ Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school

♦ The process to flash-freeze food was patented in 1924 by Clarence Birdseye

♦ Only 14 percent of all U.S. homes had a bathtub

♦ Penicillin not discovered until 1928

♦ Just 8 percent of homes had a telephone

♦ The first voice and music signals heard were transmitted over radio waves in December 1906

♦ The ballpoint pen invented in 1944

♦ There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads in the USA

♦ The maximum speed limit in most places: 10 mph

♦ Tallest structure in the world: the Eiffel Tower

♦ Average US wage in 1910 only 22 cents per hour

♦ The average US worker earned between $200 and $400 per year

♦ The calculator invented in 1970

♦ More than 95% of all births took place at home

♦ 90 percent of all doctors had no college education

♦ Sugar cost about 4 cents per pound

♦ Eggs sold for about 14 cents a dozen

♦ Coffee was 15 cents a pound

♦ 18% percent of households had at least one full-time servant

♦ There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

♦ Most women washed their hair only once a month and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo

♦ Underarm deodorant and toothpaste did not exist

♦ The five leading causes of death: 1. The flu, 2. Tuberculosis, 3. Diarrhea, 4. Heart disease, 5. Stroke

Obviously, there were no microwaves, no cell-phones, no internet, no social media.

One centenarian's opinion

Over four decades ago my grandmother, who at the time lived in an assisted-living facility, celebrated her 100th birthday. (She lived to be 101.) The local small-town newspaper sent a female reporter to interview her. This proved a bit frustrating for the young woman.

It seems Grandma peppered her with questions about how she managed her life as a wife, the mother of two preschoolers, and also worked for the newspaper. Through all this the reporter kept asking, "I do enjoy talking with you, but please, won't you tell me about the good old days?"

Finally, Grandma replied. "Well, the good old days weren't so great. You wouldn't have liked 'em much."

Not a bad role model for living, I'd say

As you might guess, I love Grandma's answer and I think it's a good attitude for any of us to hang onto as the years pass. After all, don't the experts keep telling us we need to "live in the moment"?

So let's make the most of today, as the psalmist advised us in Psalm 118:24, here from the ESV:

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Here's to loving the life we have in the day we are living!

Lenore

Take Another Look at the “Good Old Days”

May 23, 2024
If you're like me, you long to hear someone in the media look on the bright side of life.

You know, spend more time on what is good and right and true, if just for the novelty effect.

Since that seems unlikely, let's help ourselves. It's still good advice to once in awhile stop and take a slow, deep breath, then exhale. Do it again. Feel your shoulders drop and your spirit rise? Good.

Now take another deep breath and thank God for something or someone in your life that gives you joy. From now on, keep your mind tuned to what is right in your life, rather than what's wrong.

Past generations managed to get through hard times, whether national or personal–without falling apart, even when life was hard. How? Part of the credit goes to entertainers of the time. They kept everyone's morale up.

Here's one example from 1944, when it seemed World War II would never end

Bing Crosby croons a song that caught on instantly–and still carries a useful message for us today.

Johnny Mercer wrote "Accentuate the Positive" in 1944, when Americans were bone-weary of World War II. With its upbeat rhythms and happy lyrics, this tune quickly proved to be a morale-booster.

The song's instructions lay down a good track to follow

Accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Perhaps this sounds like too much. Besides, where are we supposed to find the energy?

I've only found one Source that never lets me down and that's God. He won't let you down, either.

The One who knows us best and even numbers the hairs on our heads is always there, waiting for us to turn to Him and ask for what we need.

How would "accentuate the positive" play out in everyday life?

Here are some starters:

Give up keeping track of what's missing in your husband or wife, or your children or employer. (Or anyone else, for that matter.) Instead, look for what is worthwhile in them and what they do right, then talk about that.

Let go of nagging kids over poor grades or annoying habits. Instead, point out to them their good temperament qualities–like kindness–and evidences of strong character, like follow-through and keeping promises.

Stop replaying how tight finances are and bemoaning all the restrictions and things you can't afford. Instead, remind yourself what you are able to do and thank God for that.

At first it may seem no one notices, but don't quit. Little by little, your deliberate new outlook will catch on with the people in your life, especially your family.

Think what a difference that could make inside your own four walls.

Always, we decide what we will emphasize

"Accentuate the positive" means we focus on what's good and right and true in people and in our world.

For example, if everyone depends on us and it weighs us down, how will we view it? We can call it a burden. Or we can regard it as the privilege it is.

Privilege? Yes, especially for parents. Moms and dads set the tone for their families. Children constantly listen and learn, wanting to know how they are to look at life and people. Happy parents make for happy kids who feel confident about life–and themselves.

Wives and husbands probably won't label it as such, but each one supports their spouse emotionally, remembering it is who they are, not what they do. Every time they smile and hug–the more, the better–each one feels appreciated. Somehow that lessens the weight of worries and problems for each of them.

Good friends can do that, too, because we are meant to encourage each other.

Even if we live alone, we set the tone for our lives. We can start our mornings by thanking God for another day. Or we can fixate on the constant news broadcasts and talk shows. When we choose the latter, it's easy to get caught up in thinking and talking about the evil in the world and in people.

As usual and as always, it's our choice.

Before that song came the Apostle Paul

I have no proof, but it may seem logical to think Johnny Mercer took his inspiration from Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers–and sisters–whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Doesn't that sound a lot like "Accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative, Latch on to the affirmative"?

Doubts and fears still may surface now and then

I've found it helps to go back to God's promises, for example:

By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8 ESV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2 ESV

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. –Psalm 4:8 ESV

Over the years I've learned I need to be watchful over my moods and to deliberately pick out what's good in life and to thank God for it.

The ancient wisdom still holds: A thankful heart is good medicine.

Wishing you joy!

Lenore
Find a Lift for Your Day–and Your Heart–Here

March 1, 2024
That sounds impossible, doesn't it?

I used to think so, too. Then one day what I considered an inconvenience turned out to be pure blessing.

There I was, stuck in a line of shoppers waiting to check out at a local warehouse store. As usual, the place teemed with shoppers. Most of us were scowling and fidgety, checking our phones as we remained parked in line.

Not the petite older woman ahead of me. She seemed to have all the time in the world and looked around with a half-smile, as if she were slightly amused.

Finally she reached the checkout stand and the checker suppressed a yawn before saying, "Hello! Hope you're in the middle of a good day."

She smiled, then said, "Yes, of course I'm having a good day. I always have a good day."

"Really! How do you manage that?"

"Oh, it's easy. I decided a long time ago that I was done with having bad days. They're nothing more than a huge waste of time.

"I told myself that from then on I would have only good days–and I do, I really do. It took a little practice but now I refuse to get upset, no matter what happens."

The checker looked a bit flummoxed at that, but then said, "Um, that's great. You make it sound really simple."

"Well, I look at it this way: I'm the one in one in charge of my mind, nobody else."

As she put away her wallet and prepared to walk away she said, "I'm not handing that control over to anyone else."

She pointed upward

"Besides," she said, "I know who's watching over me, so I just figure one way or another, whatever happens HE will make everything work out okay."

By then all three of us were smiling.

The checker said, "Thanks, I needed that reminder today. When I get uptight I make myself take a few deep breaths. Then I shrug my shoulders a few times and try to relax."

As the little lady started to walk away, the checker said, "I like your way better. You decide beforehand your day will be good. I think I'll try that myself."

Our "teacher" flashed a parting smile and said, "You do that! Bet you'll be glad you did!"

I watched her while waiting for the checker to finish my order

She looked to be an oasis of serenity as she strolled through the crowd of hurrying people, many of them texting or talking on their phones while shushing their kids.

Her body language communicated that she possessed what I wanted for myself: A calm spirit. Inner peace. Smiles instead of frowns.

As I walked to my car I knew I would remember that encounter. My fellow shopper reminded me of what I had believed all my life, that yes, God is still in control and yes, I do have a will and and I choose how I look at life.

Before I even drove home I promised myself I would follow her example–and why couldn't I? She obviously drew her strength from the same Power Source I relied on, the One who never fails us.

I stuck with that resolution and began learning all over again to remember that each day is a gift from God. My call is to regard every day as a good day even before I began it.

She was right. I like this way much better, too.

Strength for the journey, especially on those "Who cares?" days

The Bible is filled with verses we can use as hand-holds whenever the climb feels too steep. Verses such as these:

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Growth can take awhile

For me it often feels like a two steps forward, one step back process. I came to understand that's okay because I still move one step closer to my goal.

I have learned over time that my nameless friend spoke deep truth that day. It makes all the difference to decide beforehand that our day(s) will be good That simple move changes us, changes how we see ourselves and our life situation.

Inevitably, how we relate to the people around us changes, too–and that can bring the sweetest reward of all. Every day of every year.

Blessings to you and yours,

Lenore

Here’s the simple secret to having only good days

January 6, 2024
It's surprising, but the true basics of making life better often sound too simple.

I found that to be true back when I was a young mother trying to hold it all together.

No matter how hectic the day, I never missed one syndicated column in our daily newspaper: "The Worry Clinic," written by a Dr. George Crane.

All I knew about "Dr. Crane" was what the tiny blurb at the bottom stated, that he was a licensed, professional counselor. But I liked his column because he mostly avoided psychiatric terminology and spoke plain English. I didn't always agree with him but often I found insights and ideas I hadn't thought about.

When I stumbled across a reprint of his column it felt like finding a lost friend

While searching for something else on Google, Dr. Crane's piece popped up. Immediately my mind flashed back to the first time I read these same words in our newspaper, then reread them. I clipped his column and taped it to a cupboard door.

After that I read it at least once a day, always asking God to help me stick with it.

One day at a time . . . Soon I noticed myself feeling more calm, more settled. More positive about my life, even though our family hubbub went on as usual.

Time hasn't changed my opinion that this wisdom still rings true

This is said to be an exact reprint of Dr. Crane's original piece, penned over a century ago. (Because of continuing requests it reappeared in his column periodically over the years. )

  JUST FOR TODAY

Here are ten resolutions to make when you awake in the morning.

They are Just for One Day. Think of them not as a life task but as a day’s work.

These things will give you pleasure. Yet they require will power. You don’t need resolutions to do what is easy.

1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life-problem at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

2. Just for Today, I will be Happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from Within; it is not a matter of Externals.

3. Just for Today, I will Adjust myself to what Is, and not try to Adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come, and fit myself to them.

4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it, care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.

5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:

    (a) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count.

    (b) I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

    (c) I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but Today I will not show it.

7. Just for To-day, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with flattery, criticize not one bit nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.

8. Just for Today, I will have a Programme. I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I’ll have it. It will save me from the two pests, Hurry and Indecision.

9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective to my life.

10. Just for Today, I will be Unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be Happy, to enjoy what is Beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love love me.

                                                       (Written by Dr. George Crane in 1921)

If I said I ever mastered this list I would be lying

It still provides a checklist of how I want to live and look at life.

I suspect I'm not the only person who feels this way. As a Christian, I recognized it echoed Psalm 118:24:

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

At any age, any stage of life, we start with rejoicing and deciding to be glad for the blessing of each day. If we add in Dr. Crane's principles, one by one, our tomorrows can't help being happier.

Working on it, too,

Lenore

Do You Want a Better Tomorrow? Start Here

September 23, 2023
Most of us know at least one person who believes others get all the luck and they don't have much of a chance to be happy or successful.

I think of my friend "Ellie," whom I've known for years. Whenever life disappoints her she says something like, "Well, that's the way it goes for me. It's that old black cloud that's been parked over my head since I was born."

Where she got that idea I don't know, but no one has been able to convince her she's wrong.

Ellie remains convinced she's unlucky. Therefore, everything turns out less well for her than for people around her. End of discussion.

I've come to think she feels a perverse kind of satisfaction when she can say, "See there? I told you everything happens to me and nothing ever works out right!"

Maybe Ellie's mindset isn't far from from our own, just a little bit. Or even a lotta bit.

Our outlook defines the "world" we live in

Christians are not immune to this way of thinking.

Most of us would confess we've asked God at times, "Why?" "How?" "When will this be over?"

Even as people who know and trust our Lord, it's still true that how we see determines what we see and yes, it often takes courage and strength to look on the bright side.

Maybe that's because it takes less energy to look down than up.

Negativity is rather like gravity. It exerts an invisible pull that drags us down.

Always, we get to choose

A favorite pastor who always seemed to be looking up, not down, said the first thing he did every morning was say, "Thank you, Lord, for another day. This is the day You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Next he took a few moments and ran through his reasons to thank God.

I knew him well enough to know he had his share of troubles and sorrows in his life, yet he deliberately turned his attention toward God's goodness and power.

That changes things, doesn't it?

We can keep our eyes on ourselves–on our problems and our limited abilities–and panic.

Or we can remind ourselves that as believers in Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth is on our side, which shrinks our challenges down to their rightful size.

Christians, too, can hit one of those times when everything appears to us to be unsolvable and we're drifting toward hopelessness. That's the time to remind ourselves Who has the last word:

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" —Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Always, we find what we look for

Even in the worst times we still have a choice: We can fixate on what's wrong or we can remind ourselves what we know is right and good and true.

The Apostle Paul knew all about that. For years he traveled far and wide to tell people about Jesus and repeatedly experienced the worst kind of hardships, including beatings and imprisonments. Even then, he wrote to the Philippians:

Finally, brothers [and sisters,] 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. –Philippians 4:8 NIV

In those few words Paul shows us how to shed our own "black cloud":

Always asking God's help, we resolve to day after day fasten our thoughts on what is good. When we do that, over time the darkness of everyday life will lose its pull on us.

It's our mindset that matters most

Chuck Swindoll summed it up well: "We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. Our attitude is everything."

As always, the Bible stated this same truth centuries before Swindoll:

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he … . –Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

Perhaps you, too, know this and believe it, but still must keep relearning this truth again and again. (Me, too.) The good news is we can start over tomorrow. And the tomorrow after that every day of our lives. Today's failure is never final.

As Swindoll said, it's all about how we react to what happens to us. (Or doesn't.) That leaves us with no one to blame, but isn't that a good thing?

Doesn't this mean we get to decide whether we will walk in sunshine or live under a "dark cloud"?

Let's head our daily checklist with these two questions to think about:

What am I thinking in my heart?

How happy/contented/hopeful have I decided to be?

Only you (and I) can come up with answers for ourselves. Think of that as the ultimate power statement.

Thankful for each new start,

Lenore
Do you live under a dark cloud?

May 30, 2023