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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Do you want your presence to be a blessing for
others which can make you more happier?
In today's world, people climb up the ladder of life using wrong and devious
methods. This is a slippery path and can only end in disaster. So there is no
peace, love, joy, unity in life. We fail to notice what's going right. It's
often necessary to focus on what is wrong in order to make things better. The
negative carriers (pessimists) are always despicable and unwelcome in the
company of good. They won't have any genuine friends.
There is a golden rule in English grammar - use positive words; avoid negative
words. Instead of: only some 40 odd people turned out for the opening of the
Church, we could say, over 50 people participated in the opening of the church.
This minor change will do a profound impact about you in front of others and in
your life. Keep a card in your wallet with the words, "Drop the negativity and
focus on the blessings." Then you will be amazed at how rewarding this shift in
thinking can be. You will become more easily satisfied, loving, grateful, and
appreciative. For this we should have a bit of intent, practice, and repetition.
Abraham is a retired, happy rich man in my church in India. For the past 24
years, he had been the most welcomed and cherished member, both in the Church
and in my residence. Now in his 70's, he still drives his old scooter even
though he has all the richness to buy a BMW car. He always comes with a smiling
face that itself changes all my bad moods and makes me happy. One can only hear
him talk positive things in life and he is generous with his blessings for
others, which makes you feel really blessed. He used to say, "Acha (Priest), I'm
fully satisfied in my life. God has blessed me immensely. I have no complaints
about anything." But I know that when looked at negatively, he too has many
complaints and problems in his life. May God bless this kind of people.
King Davis says, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his
love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1). In the words of Eric Hoffer, "The hardest
arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." Say a big
no to negativity of any kind. Then, see the change in your life, in your home,
and in your job.
Jesus, we pray for those who are living with
negative attitudes and its products of poverty and sorrows. Let all satanic and
negative habits be uprooted and instead plant minds to count and appreciate
their blessings. All we ask in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
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