I was blessed to talk to a good friend on the phone recently. A few months after her husband passed away, she had moved to TX to be close to her children.

I asked how she liked her new place, friends, and church. Without missing a beat, she replied,

“I had already decided before I ever left that I was going to like it and I do. And I want you to know that I didn’t wait to get involved at church either. I just walked in the kitchen the first Sunday at a potluck and got busy.”

What a powerful sermon on attitude!

The way we view our lives can either make us or break us. We can wallow in self-pity or make a positive impact in this crazy world. That sweet lady could have let her grief get the best of her. She could’ve balked about moving a thousand miles from the home she’s always known, refusing to worship God and blamed him for the changes in her life.

Instead, she embraced her circumstances and made the best of them. When she started attending a new congregation of the Lord’s people, she didn’t let the fact that she was new to their family keep her from being active. She dived in whole-heartedly and quickly became accustomed to a new routine.

Like that sister in Christ, let us decide to follow Jesus regardless of difficult situations. Let us decide to be different from the world even when it feels like it’s going to smother us. Let us decide to get involved in good works regardless of our busy schedules. By our actions and attitudes, let us decide to change the world and then let’s do it.

May we all accept our places in life and then with good decisions let us encourage others and glorify our Father.

For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:18 (NASB)

Paula Harrington @ www.forthright.net