Some positive things about the drought
1. Dirt roads are awesome for biking now: nearly as hard as pavement but without all the traffic
2. My hibiscus has been flowering for months! It thinks we have moved to the tropics with all this sun.
3. Fewer hedge balls.
4. Fewer mosquitos.
5. Harvest shouldn't take long.
6. Opportunity to test how long our ponds will hold water without rain.
7. Fewer dandelions in the yard.
8. No muddy footprints in the house.
9. One can get a lot of outdoor work done...as long as it doesn't involve digging...or growing things.
10.When I water my plants the smell of wet dirt is almost intoxicating.
Whew! That stretched my optimism muscles! Optimism is important. If we assume the worst it is difficult to work for the best.
Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
This is not about ignoring the hardships of life. This is about finding the good in life and making that good the center of your thoughts, the focus upon which to build.
I have never considered myself an optimist but I have been consciously enjoying the lack of mosquitos by spending more time outside. When I water my plants, I breathe deeply the intoxicating smell of wet dirt. Then I pray that smell will become more prevalent (as in rain). Then I pray for those who are suffering from even more severe drought around the world and count my blessings again. If we remove our focus from what is troubling us, we can see what is troubling our neighbor and lend a helping hand. This is not blind optimism but optimism that sees and distributes hope.
Sometimes, if you look in the right place, even drought can look like this.
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| A partially opened hibiscus flower in my backyard. |
