Our Sr. Pastor said Sunday that our ATTITUDE determines our ALTITUDE.

I couldn't agree more.  He was saying that how we handle the tough times determines how far we go in life.  If you can not make yourself see the silver-lining around the gray cloud, you may miss the way of escape that is made for every situation.  Have you ever had something negative happen and long after it is over, you may be just thinking over the situation or you may be talking about it with someone else, and you realize the one or two things that you could have done that would have changed the whole out come of your situation.  (It is that hindsight-is-20/20 moment).

I have been unemployed since May 26, 2006.  I could have been complaintant about it, because even though I am married, I do not want to be a burden on my husband.  I received unemployment for 13 weeks, and it was $69 per week.  Could have complained about how they calculated my wages, how they cheated me, but it wouldn't really have changed anything.  I have not had to go without anything the entire time I have beel laid off from work.  I may even say, other than the fact that sitting home for over 5 months has expanded my waistline, I am happy as a clam.  The money that we needed for "anything" was available and we did not have to go without anything, at any time, and were even able to take several out of town trips, (which we didn't seem to have money for when both of us were working).  I am excited about going back to work, because this is one of the only jobs that I have ever LOVED.  And now, I have been called back, slightly ahead of seniority.

When you accept that there are going to be good and bad situations that come, you free yourself.  When you make up your mind that no matter what happens you are going to look for the positive that can come from it, you will receive a greater reward.  I have taken this approach my entire adult life, (not to say that I don't ever have those moment when I gripe and complain about simple things, because I am human and I do that sometimes, too), I usually always look at the bigger picture.  With boyfriends, I always was fair and didn't make the new guy pay for the old guy's damages.  And the reward that I have is a wonderful, loving husband, who is able to benefit from the patience and strength that I learned before him.  I look at every past relationship/friendship/job and gleem the lesson from that situation.  Then I appreciate that person/place/thing for what they brought to my life and I move on.

Let the lesson you learn this week be that no matter what happens, it has come through your life to make you stronger.  Be thankful that you survived it, move on, and notice how much lighter your shoulders feel when you are not trying to carry the world, (or the cares of it).