Sunday, August 5, 2007

A Choice for Today

My choice for Today

The dark clouds hang
In preparation for the torrential rains
My heart becomes heavy, my mood changes:
It was time to be sad for no just cause;
But everyday is not about sunshine and brightness
There are mountains and valleys
There are nadirs and zeniths
And the world was made by God:
Not every day is about good news and things going our way
But what makes the difference is the mood chosen for the day
If the birds chose to be sad, we’d lack overlooked music
If the plants chose to be sad, we’d be in need of air to breathe
My choice for today
Is to put a smile on my face
To see the glass half full
To decide not to be blue
But thank God that the rains
Means the sun will come again
Leaving me with some happiness
For others and myself
Having realized that
Choosing to be happy
Will make a difference today
A day I’d never see again.

The Inspiration
I was present during this conversation.
Mr. A: I am supposed to be facilitating a course in the Hilton. But I am lodged in Sheraton. There is no way I can make it on time for the course.
Mr. B: There is a bus provided by the hotel
Mr. A: I need to be there 1 hour before the bus leaves
Mr. B: That would be a wonderful time taking a walk in Abuja.
Mr. A: I have been to Abuja several times
Mr. B: There is always something new to see or something new to learn. You don’t know where you will see your second wife after all you have the option of marrying four.
With that, everyone laughed and the case was closed.

I have heard of optimism. I have heard of people that are naturally happy. I have heard of books that talk about optimism and happiness. Until you have seen it you won’t understand why I am so excited to share with you the inspiration behind the poem.

I spent 2 and half days with Mr. B. Never in one moment did he say anything negative. He is not slow to speech. He talks very fast. Yet none of the words from his lips were negative or showed unhappiness. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [Luke 6:45]. He was a very happy man. There was always a smirk on his face. He was not necessarily an extrovert or someone that cracked unnecessary jokes to pass the time. Yet everyone around him was happy. It was the most contagious thing I had seen in a while. I asked him what made him so happy. He said because God has made him so. In Genesis 1:31, Behold everything God had made was very good. Afterwards HE rested. Mr. B said it was then God made him happy. Not today. All he does each day is to accept that God had done a very good thing when HE was created, and being happy is part of it. That is his philosophy. It works for him.

Ever since the fall of man, there has been cause for sadness. But if you really think about what God has done for you, there is reason to be happy. That you are reading this today is a reason to be thankful, to bless our Almighty God. There are many people who would desire to have sight to see, to have the fingers you are using right now, and to have the ability to hope for a brighter day. You are blessed. You should greatly rejoice in the LORD, be joyful in HIM; for he has clothed you with the garments of salvation, he has covered you with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels [Isaiah 61:10]. I pray the eyes your understanding be enlightened to see the power in these words. If you think of HIS beauty, HIS power, HIS love, HIS faithfulness, and HIS personality, you will just be happy.

Paul knew that we are prone to adorning ourselves with sadness, even when there is no reason for it. So he teaches us thus: “Finally, brethren, 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]. As you replace pessimism with optimism, as you replace negativity with positive thinking, you will be amazed at how happy you can become. Is it easy to replace all negative thoughts with positive thoughts? Not easy on your own. You need to draw strength from God. It is something you can ask of HIM in prayer. David asked God “Let the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight” [Psalm 19:14]. The moment you find yourself thinking good things, you will radiate good things. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is [Proverbs 23:7].

Happiness is a choice, as quoted from Pam Golden’s book “Choosing the happiness habit”. If I’m to share with you my sincere wish, it is that you choose to be happy today because you will never have the chance for today again.

Have a blessed day.

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