"Be Positive"~

Lately, I have not been my positive self. I have a phrase in my patriarchal  blessing that says: ....."be optimistic and cheerful." I do feel that is part of my nature.
I realize that it is OK to have a bad day; but I don't like it when it runs into more than one day. It seemed like everyday last week brought some sad or bad news. I felt very stressed. On Sunday my pleading prayers were answered. Our opening song was exactly what I needed to hear.
Eight years ago my husband lost his job and he was out of work for 9 months. It was hard for both of us.  We were planning a trip to Salt Lake City to attend a Wedding for our Niece in the Salt Lake Temple. That day my husband received three job offers. Each one was in a different area. There was one where we lived; but not a firm offer. The other two were in Fort Worth,Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. We are from Salt Lake City; but hadn't lived there for many years. We were living in Spokane, Washington at that time and had lived there for 15 years. Spokane felt like home to me.

After the wedding we decided to go for a walk on the Temple grounds. We were both praying about what job he needed to accept. The one in Texas was for more money and lower cost of living than the job offer in Salt Lake. As were sitting on a bench I noticed a sign that talked about families. Here in Salt Lake City, Heber City and  St. George; we had a lot of family on both sides. I all of a sudden knew he was to accept the job in Salt Lake.  The message to me was profound but I knew that my husband needed to have a good feeling about it too. As were walking around the grounds I noted that my husband had tears rolling down his face. He said, "We are to take the job here in Salt Lake City". He said that the words to a hymn came to his mind and as he said the words to me we were both in tears. The words came from the following hymn:

 How Firm A Foundation",Verse 3:

"Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand".

We moved here not knowing why; but within a short period of time we learned exactly why we were brought here. Since that day it seems like when that hymn is sung at our church it is just exactly what we needed to hear that day. 
It was an interesting day because I had been thinking also about my blog. I had a dear blogging friend that mentioned that she thought blogs should be fun. I totally agree. I think we get so much negativity from media and social sites. Daily we are divulged with negative news.  Bad news always trump's the good news. Even the TV we watch is so full of sarcasm, violence and etc. What we write about on the social sites is important. I want to be positive. I know that there may be causes to fight for; but in general I would say that most of us thrive on uplifting media and news. I love to wake up to good news.

Both President and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley had a positive influence in my life. President Hinckley was one of our prophets. He made the following statement:
"I see so many good people everywhere - and there's so much of good in them. And the world is good. Wonderful things are happening in this world. This is the greatest age in the history of the earth...
We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. Tragedy is around, yes. Problems everywhere, yes.... You can't, you don't, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen. (Ensign, June 1994, 4.)
I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we "accentuate the positive." I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course.
What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replaces pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: "Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve. "(Ensign, April. 1986, 204).
Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley had such a loving and kind personality; I love this thought from her: "Who knows but that something wonderful may happen today. Have faith that it will. After all, every morning is a chance at a new day!"
So my challenge is that we all try harder to write those things that are uplifting, inspiring and that bring happiness into our lives. Even Sunday our blessed home teacher told us a story and then stated; "Perhaps, we should pray to be happy." So let's pray to be happy and positive.
In addition I wanted to share some of my favorite blogs. I love these blogging friends because they are positive, fun, and creative. These friends do share wonderful messages of hope and wonderful experiences.  Perhaps you will enjoy reading some of their uplifting thoughts. I will share two or three of these links each week. I have many blogs that I love.

Debbie does beautiful photography of her surroundings with wonderful thoughts too.

 http://itsallaboutpurple-debbie.blogspot.com/

Marie, has a great recipe site, along with her positive personality and does fantastic artwork:

http://www.ayearfromoakcottage.org/

Anna-Marie does homeschooling and her adventures with her children are wonderful.

 I am always learning new things from her.

http://lifesadventures-amb.blogspot.com/

Sue is a fantastic writer of books and poetry. Her writings are so inspiring.

You must visit her site here.

http://grannysuesnews.blogspot.com/

Next week, I will share more positive and uplifting blogs~