OVER AT BETSY'S

Just a photo of what I'm hoping for soon!

Up here it will probably be another 4 months, lol!

Betsy, over at Joyful Reflections, is asking an interesting question today on her new post - Let's Talk Fridays. Rather than write her such a long comment, I decided to add my thoughts to the conversation on my own post.
 

One of my favorite life verses is 

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is GOD'S WILL for you."

Seems to me, however, that those who whine, spew negativity and complain a lot are hurting, angry people. Perhaps they have experienced unparalleled trauma, are in chronic pain or have one setback after another. What if those things were happening to me and I became weepy, whiny or always wistful? How would I want to be treated?

I’m going to share with you something my son said quite a while back when we were discussing this topic of how to deal with negative folks.
 

“People who are hurt and depressed are afflicted. Our afflictions are from God and we are not always joyful and thankful. Fortunately, the Hebrew Bible provides a voice for those times, voices of lamentation, grieving, anger, and consolation.... How has that one verse - 

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is GOD'S WILL for you"

done so much to obliterate this testimony, 

creating communities 

that demand false joy, happy faces, 

and who ignore the biblical ministry 

of lament, grief, anger, and consolation? 

I see no perpetually happy prophets 

and often hear the voices of 

conflicted, oppressed, and angry psalmists! 

Is there a place for the hurt 

and the depressed and the bored 

to come and praise God? 

I am indeed thankful that God wills 

that I should be joyful; 

I am also relieved that God 
doesn't require it of me. 

Maybe people should take less offense 

to hurt and depressed people, 

and commiserate instead of judge or help 

(with a joyful heart!) instead of criticize.”

Ken Ristau

I’m still learning more and more, to not be offended by negative people, to commiserate, to validate what people feel, to allow others to vent, to listen with compassion, to gently or firmly as the need may be, show people the error in their thinking patterns by mirroring back to them what I heard them say. I can't fix them, only God can, but perhaps He is using my positive influence to affect the change in their lives.

I guess that’s why I work in pastoral care and counseling. I’m also still learning to not let Satan steal my energy and joy because I know Who is the true source of my joy and energy and He will supply all I need. 

Oh, my dear friends, I'm not there yet...

and God is still working on me!

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

If we all did that

there would be no room

for negativity in our lives!