The Glad Game

When my daughters were young, one of our favorite movies was Pollyanna, the 1960 Hayley Mills version. It is based on a book written in 1913 about a girl who was orphaned at a young age and had to come live with a very dour but wealthy aunt. Pollyanna had been taught by her missionary father to always look for something good in every situation. She called this "the glad game". Her aunt was critical of this game and attitude and, in essence, told Pollyanna her optimism had nothing to do with reality. Actually, the term, 'pollyanna', has come to mean an excessively or blindly optimistic person or as being unreasonably or illogically optimistic.

Long before Eleanor H. Porter wrote Pollyanna, God inspired writers throughout the Bible to issue imperatives about being glad and rejoicing in all situations. Psalm 32:11 tells us to "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart." Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!" James instructs his readers to, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

Today we can play the glad game with confidence, knowing that we are not being excessively, blindly, unreasonably, or illogically optimistic, but that we are obeying biblical commands to be glad and rejoice. As believers, we can do this because we know the truth of Romans 8:28, "...that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Distractions and Choices

Martha was distracted. There was so much to do. Jesus was there with many others. The food had to be cooked and served and peoples' needs had to be seen to. Mary sat at Jesus' feet with an attitude of worship, listening to His words with an open heart and mind.

So many everyday things tend to distract us from worship. Doing good things can be distraction - we can even become too busy doing things for the Lord. Psalm 27:4 tells us, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." If you could choose only one thing to ask of the Lord, what would it be? We see where the Psalmist's priorities were.

Most of our choices for the use of our time are not between good and bad but between good and better. Time with the Lord, in His word is essential.

To lessen distractions and choose the best thing:
1. Choose God's way at every opportunity
2. Commit yourself daily to God before you even get out of bed.
3. Cultivate a "hot heart" for the Lord.

In Luke 10:41, Jesus said, ..."Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Choose wisely today.