“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” — Philippians 4:8
Whistling While We Wait
Every team needs people with high energy and a cheerful outlook regardless of circumstances. If a teammate is always chirping about something silly or singing a song during workouts, then he or she motivates others to keep on doing their best. Imagine a soccer player named Molly, a joyful young lady who helped others reach their goals. When Molly was a child, she enjoyed visits with her Papa. The example of her grandparents helped her become a shining example.
Happyday Hardware was open on Saturday mornings, so Molly woke up early on many weekends for her Mama to take her to the store to see Papa. She wanted to hear more stories about her grandma. When Molly opened the door to the hardware store, she heard Papa whistling.
She asked her Papa why he was always whistling? He said, “Whistling is my way of remembering Cindy.” Molly said, “I am so sad that Grandma died before I was born!” Papa said, “I am too but she made me promise to keep on whistling happy songs until I see her again in Heaven.” He said sometimes he slips and whistles sad songs, like “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones, but most days he whistles uplifting music like “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” or “Love Lifted Me.”
How do we sing happy songs when sorrow overwhelms us? How do we whistle when we are shut up at home, isolated in a nursing home or we just lost our job? The Bible tells us to focus our hearts and minds on everything good in our life. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
Maturity means learning to keep a good attitude no matter what happens. It’s not easy to be cheerful when we’d rather be crying, but we can do so when we set our minds on Heavenly thoughts. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).
We do more earthly good when happy thoughts guide us. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16).
Happy thoughts make for a cheerful outlook regardless of circumstances.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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