Wo is me....maybe not so much.

Have you ever woke up in the morning flooded with thoughts of "Wo is me." Things that irritate you come to your mind, stuff like,

"Why did I ever keep that dog, it is scratching up the wood floor, it is chewing up the chairs."
"When am I ever going to finish that shed."
"I seem to start a lot of things and never finish them."
"I'm never going to learn to play the violin, I don't have the time to practice."
"My house is not good enough, or big enough."
"This person has more than me."

The list goes on and on. I woke up with one of those mornings. It is amazing how these negative thoughts can drag you down into the dumps. I needed an attitude change, and it started with a simple thought of gratitude. I thought back in time when I was complaining about an inconvenience I had previously that I don't have now. In our old house there was a toilet that would always get clogged. I hated that thing! Don't have that problem in my current home. Then I thought, there are people in this world that don't have running toilets. Now I began to feel pretty shallow in even having these thoughts. Then the most precious thought that was and will always be a game changer. I have something that everybody else can have and cannot take away. I'm a son of God, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. He sent His Only Begotten Son, who died and lives again for me. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have, or where you live in this world. All can have this knowledge, and have this same privilege. They can enjoy this same happiness that this thought brought to me this morning. Jesus died for all of us here, not just for me. The Spirit touched me and my heart was filled with love. My thoughts now turned to hope, faith, and joy. I saw opportunities to improve and help others.

It is the last day of 2010. A new year is before us. I pray and hope all can look forward to what life can and will bring. May we look forward with hope, faith, and gratitude. With this attitude, then, take one step at a time, in making ourselves and those around us better.

"To dig a straight furrow, the plowman needs to keep his eyes on a fixed point ahead of him. That keeps him on a true course. If, however, he happens to look back to see where he has been, his chances of straying are increased. The results are crooked and irregular furrows....Fix your attention on your.... goal[s] and never look back on your earlier problems....If our energies are focused not behind us but ahead of us--on eternal life and the joy of salvation--we assuredly will obtain it." Teachings of Howard W. Hunter.