"I thank my God every time I remember you."
Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
What do you remember about people? The good experiences or the bad
experiences? Paul said, "I like to
remember the good things about people, focus on the good times we've had,
remember the positive experiences."
When Paul said this he had not had an easy time in
Philippi. Acts 16 tells us that when he went to Philippi he was illegally
arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison -- before finally being
asked to leave town. Yet he says, "I thank God every time I remember
you."
Paul could have dwelt on the negative. He could have remembered the painful memories. He chose not to remember the painful;
instead, he focused on the things he could be grateful for.
Maybe you have been hurt in the past by a parent, a spouse,
or a friend and you're still holding on to that hurt. As a result you can't enjoy being around them
today. In fact, you find yourself not enjoying much at all! You're still
focusing on the bad and negative. Be
grateful for the good in people.
Pleasant memories are a choice. I
can choose what I'm going to remember about the past. See for the most part
what we are holding onto is not even being held onto by the one you’re
frustrated with and we are the ones losing sleep, dealing with anxiety and
missing out on what God has for us!
I'm not saying that you deny the hurts you've had or that
you excuse the weaknesses in other people.
That is psychologically unhealthy.
Focus on the good and choose to emphasize the strengths. Please move on past this dream-staller.
If you want to enjoy others, you've got to focus on their
strengths and not their weaknesses. With
some people it takes a lot of creativity.
But you can find something good in everybody.
I pray this week you can celebrate someone else and your
new way of thinking will become contagious in your circle of friends!
Blessings,
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