The voices in my head are fighting again... and I can't find my glasses...

I know I'm not the only one with this problem. You just don't like to admit you have it too! LOL I can be cruising along without a care in the world and then BAM... negativity jumps in my head. As soon as it hits, I have to find Polly Anna to jump on top of it with her ray of sunshine... and the fight begins... back and forth... good thoughts against bad thoughts... it's so frustrating!

For example: I'm behind a dump truck. I have friends and family that drive big trucks and I know the dangers that lurk around them. So, I stay out of their way and use caution and patience. YES, I am that "annoying" driver that makes you wait, while I wait! Get over it... I'm trying to keep us all safe! Anyway, I'm behind him waiting for him to turn right. He has his own lane and could pull out into the flow of traffic, but we wait patiently for the light to turn green. However, once he pulls into his lane and I go to pull around him into the next lane (with my blinker on) the cars stacked up behind us speed around and fly past nearly hitting me. I'm thinking, "good grief, could they have some patience?". The next thought to follow is, "maybe they are on the way to the hospital". Then I notice the truck driver on his phone! He wasn't paying attention, so I'm back to, "He needs to hang up and drive!", then "Maybe he's taking an important or emergency phone call from his wife about one of his kids".

My first instinct is almost always the negative. As hard as I try to make the first impression positive... I feel like I can't fully control the negative instinct. I do know this about myself and try to always replace the immediate negative with an immediate positive. I feel like if I can do this more often, then eventually I will have my first instincts become positive! I'm still waiting for that moment!! (And my sarcastistic tendencies are NO HELP! Hahaha) I don't want to go through life like the guy in this beginning of this video. I want to be the person wearing the glasses and have enough sense to be able to show compassion and love every where it's needed. It's hard when you have a great deal of negativity floating all around you. Glasses on--everyone around me is struggling with something and I have to be open enough to have patience with them regardless of their outward appearance or attitude. Glasses off--who cares and why are they in my way because I have things to do. Each day I wake up and have a choice whether or not to put my "glasses on". If I choose not to wear them, I might as well stay in bed. Without my glasses I will accomplish nothing worthwhile and have a bad attitude about it all day. However, if I choose to wear them, then I can face the day with a postitive attitude toward everything thrown in my path. Afterall, isn't that what we are called to do?

Colossians 3:1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So, what is your choice for today? I'm going to put my glasses on and have a joyful day, giving thanks regardless of what I face!