A Letter from Dorothy
Proverbs 17:22
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Recently I went out to lunch with an old friend. During our time together, she complained about everything: politics, family issues, how her lunch tasted… everything. As I listened, I found it exhausting. I prayed as she spoke and wondered, “Where is her joy in the Lord?”
It seems that no matter how much positivity you have in your life these days, if you turn on the news, you’re bound to feel stress and negative emotions arise. Research shows negative emotions are about three times more powerful, so it takes three positives to undo a single negative.
So how do we combat it? When I feel negativity rising, this is what I’ve found helps.
Remember God’s promises:
These two are two of my favorites!
Nehemiah 8:1
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
John 16:33
“In this world, you will have trouble, but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
When my husband and I were told he may be very sick, (he’s not, praise the Lord), it was depressing. I searched my Bible for God’s truths, finding 20, I typed them up. I placed those promises on my bedstand, car dash, and refrigerator. I read, prayed, and concentrated on these truths.
Movement:
Get moving! Play with your kids actively. They will love it and so will you.
Gratitude:
Take the time at dinner to ask everyone what they are grateful for on that day. I love this time. It gives you a clear picture of everyone around the table.
Connection:
Have meaningful conversations with people that you enjoy.
Service:
It should be no surprise that serving brings joy. When we do something for others, it does something for us. The greatest among us serves, and in serving there is joy.
Pleasant Words:
And finally, let our words bring joy to others.
By God’s grace, my friend and I were able to complete our lunch by talking about what God was teaching us. We both were smiling and laughing when lunch was over.
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones."
Dorothy Doswald
Children's Ministries Director