Turning a Negative into a Positive
Turning a Negative into a Positive is always my goal. But it isn’t always easy!
I am fortunate to have been a presenter at a women’s conference at our church on May 31, 2014. I love it when I get the opportunity to share my thoughts. Yesterday, I was surprised when a guest at our church came up to me and said she had been in the audience on that May 31st, almost seven years ago, and that she reallyd enjoyed what I had to say and still thinks about it. Then she began to summarize what she remembered. I was quite flattered, to say the least.
Several years ago, I was at a wedding and a stranger approached me to relay the same message. Because of these ladies, I thought maybe my blog readers would enjoy what I presented. I was supposed to talk for about 45 minutes, so I will share the first half today and the rest tomorrow. The headings are just to improve blog readability. Enjoy!
A Horrible Sunday
Hi. I’m Leslie. How are you all today? I sure hope you’ve had a better week than me, let me tell you! It all started with a horrible Sunday.
We usually go to the late service at church but I wanted to go to the early service so I could hear our young friend, Travis, perform in our praise band. I never get to do this because I play the piano for the late service. So, anyway, that was the plan. Afterward we were going to go to Hu Hot for lunch with my two daughters and their families.
Ater getting dressed for church, my husband said he was driving separately because he wanted to take his old car that he spends all his spare time on. I said, “Good, the kids will want to ride in the convertible to Columbia cause that will be fun.” Right there and then things started going downhill.
Jimmy said he thought we were going out for supper; not lunch, and that he planned on our son and son-in-law helping him put up the swimming pool that afternoon. And, he wasn’t driving that car all the way to Columbia because it might not be running that good.
After some heated words, I said I was going to ride with him anyway because it was silly to take two vehicles and I didn’t have to stay for late service that day.
Now, I need to give you some background information on the swimming pool. I love to have a swimming pool. Those who know me know that I can get extremely hot and the pool is the absolute best way to cool off. Plus, I love having it for the grandkids to enjoy.
This is what Jimmy thinks of swimming pools, however–they are a lot of work to keep clean, they are expensive to buy and maintain, you can never keep them clean, he can never get the ground level enough, he never has enough help putting them up and he never gets in them. In other words, he hates having a swimming pool. But, I had won that argument and had bought one the preceding Friday.
Late to Church
We end up being late to church and miss the first songs–remember hearing the music was the reason I wanted to go to the early service. After the service, our neighbor tells me that her husband has a backhoe and would be glad to help level the dirt and put up the pool on Monday. She said he has done this before. I say that would be great and I immediately go tell my husband. He responds by telling me, ‘NO, I’m not going to ask him for help and there isn’t much dirt that needs to be moved anyway!”
Frantic News – Conference Speaker Bows Out
After church and before our Sunday School class starts, my husband informs me that he is going to go home and switch cars before going out to eat. It appeared he was staying around for Sunday School so I made the assumption that he was going to switch cars afterward. So, I went and told the organist that I would be able to play the piano for the beginning of late service while he went home and switched cars.
We have about 30 minutes between early church and Sunday School, so we had our last planning meeting for today’s women’s conference. As soon as the meeting started, the comittee chair told us that one of our greatly anticipated speakers was very regretfully bowing out and we were going to be short a speaker. After some discussion, the chair and I volunteer to be replacement speakers. I get to Sunday School on time but Jimmy comes in very late. Turns out he went home then to switch cars as he wanted to leave for lunch immediately after Sunday School.
We Cause a Scene in Church Lobby
After Sunday School things turned into quite a scene. Our girls said our son and daughter-in-law were going to eat with us too after they went to the late service. I explained that their dad was refusing to ask for the neighbor’s help with the pool and how I had even offered to hire someone but he would rather put up the pool himself and complain about it.
He blew up and said he didn’t want to go to Hu Hot anyway and he was going home and stormed out of the church. My girls proceeded to tell me to quit nagging him and how that was just great because it was supposed to be a birthday dinner for both my grandson and their dad and now he wasn’t even going and they had his presents.
I got mad and went to play the piano for church. During the meet-and-greet time, I told my son not to leave for Columbia until he knew I had a ride as his father had gotten mad and gone home. Whew, all this drama led to quite a worshipful time, let me tell you!!! NOT!
Daughter-in-law Experiences New Side of Father-in-law
Just before the sermon, I snuck out of church and went outside to call Jimmy to see if I couldn’t convince him to go eat with us. Then our son and his wife came out–skipping the sermon because they didn’t know what everyone else was doing. Before I could get Jimmy on the phone, one of the kids said he was waiting in the parking lot. So…we all headed to Columbia to Hu Hot.
You can ask my daughter-in-law about Jimmy’s behavior on the way. He refused to speak to anyone and she really tried to get him to. When we arrived to the restaurant, he said he didn’t even like Hu Hot (which isn’t true) and I said, “Well, it’s your birthday they’re trying to celebrate so where would you like to go?” Yes, I was just rubbing it in and trying to make matters worse by then. After all, he never ever gives me the silent treatment!
We enjoyed our meal, I guess. But you know how someone’s bad mood can rub off on others? It seemed that was happening. My ever-pleasant daughter-in-law even complained that the waitress was being slow with the ticket while our son was complaining to her that she had planned a barbecue for that evening and he didn’t want to have it because it costs too much and no one would bring any side dishes like she told them to. She just gave me a look that said, “Why does he have to be so much like his father?”
I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I’ve been in extreme back pain for a full six weeks and not able to do much at all. So after lunch, my youngest daughter said she was going to follow us home and plant all my flowers since it was hard for me.
It ends up that both daughters came and did that as Jimmy started the dirt work for the pool.
Tensions Run High–Again!
While the girls were planting flowers, their father started the dirt work for the pool. Let’s just say that the afternoon became very tense. With the help of the girls, a son-in-law, and a tractor, it was determined after FIVE hours of work that the area was level enough for the new pool. You recall he had told me there wasn’t much dirt work needed?
About that time, my granddaughter came out crying as she explained that she fell on my laptop computer and it was broken. After a quick check, I discovered that the screen was indeed broken. Now how was I going to do my planned research for this presentation?
Oh what a joyous Sunday–the entire family could hardly wait for it to end!!! And that’s how my week started.
True Story!
That is a true story. And if I wasn’t a Christian who makes every effort to be positive, I might continue to look at that day from that perspective. But, that’s not who I am nor is it who God wants me to be. So, let me tell you another true story.
Turning a Negative Into a Positive
What a Wonderful Sunday
Last Sunday was a wonderful day. I started the day with much less back pain than I had been having in recent days. I was really glad because after church we were going to go out with our daughters and their families for a nice lunch at Hu Hot, one of our favorite restaurants.
I looked out the window and saw that Jimmy had his prized, restored GTO convertible out to take to church. The last time we had taken it to church it was missing badly and also had the fender rubbing the tires. We were glad to see that the tires never rubbed all the way to church and he had fixed the other problem. It seemed to be running great.
Got to Hear some Praise Band Music
Although we were a little late, we got to church in time for the sermon and to hear the praise band play the offertory and three other songs. Our young friend, Travis, did an awesome solo part on the mandolin as we heard another friend, Tom, sing Long Black Train. I wish all of you could have heard it. It was sooooo good.
Our two daughters told me before Sunday School that our son and his wife were also joining us for lunch to celebrate our grandson’s and my husband’s birthdays. It was going to be a great meal with all the kids there.
Crisis Averted
Between the early service and Sunday School, I went to our last planning meeting for this conference. When it was announced that one of our speakers wasn’t able to come, no one panicked. The committee chair said she was going to try to cover for the speaker. When I found out that it was going to be for two sessons, I volunteered to do one of them. That’s pretty good for such short notice and we couldn’t help but see God’s hand in this. It seemed the Devil was doing everything he could to prevent this event but God wasn’t going to let him win this one!
All the Kids at Church
Our son and his wife came for the late service which meant all of my kids were at church that day, and as many of you mothers know, that just warms a mother’s heart like nothing else.
Good Food and Good Help
We all enjoyed good food at Hu Hot Afterward, the girls surprised me by following us home and planting all my annual flowers. Jimmy and a son-in-law started working on the ground where we were going to set our new swimming pool. Even though he never gets in the pool and thinks they are a waste of time and money, he had willingly gone with me on his birthday two days before and bought a new pool for me and the grandkids. Now, that’s what I call a great husband. The girls could see that it was a lot of work, so after planting my flowers, they started helping with the pool. After some hot hours of work, they declared the ground was ready for the pool to be set up. We ended the day by having a light supper with everyone together again and the grandkids starting to fill the pool.
(https://www.huhot.com/location/columbia-mo/)
Sunday’s activities showed me yet again what a wonderful family I have!
One Story – Two Versions
You see, both of these stories are true and they both happened last Sunday. You may have laughed at the first one but which one made you feel good about our Sunday? Which one indicated that we were a nice Christian family? Which one should we present to others? Which one makes our family feel better at the end of the day?
By the way…for those of you who know my husband…please do not tell him that I shared the stories of our Sunday. It does not fill him with joy when I talk about him in my messages! (2021 update – he’s getting used to me talking about him, plus he never reads my blog! Ha!).
Turning Negatives into Positives
Each of us has the power to choose to look at things in a positive way or in a negative way. Sometimes the positive choice takes more effort but it is so worth it.
In fact, if we weren’t positive, Satan would have won and we wouldn’t all be here today. Because, hearing that we had lost a speaker was disheartening. After all, everyone paid to hear two speakers and that’s what they were expecting. Well, guess what? With God’s help, you are getting three speakers instead of just two!! That’s the way He works when we let Him. That’s how He turns a negative into a positive.
I’m glad to be here today to share a message of joy and optimism. But, let’s face it, I’m no professional speaker. I’m just a lay speaker from this church, Pleasant Grove. (http://www.mypgumc.org/). Standing before you is rather daunting when I think about the fact that you were expecting someone else. Someone that most of us have never heard speak but were really looking forward to hearing. Instead, you get me, someone who many of you know quite well and have heard speak a number of times. My knowing that could fill me with dread and fear. After all, we might as well admit it, We women are pretty hard to please. Let me share this illustration with you.
Husband Shopping Center
A young woman from a small town in Texas decided to move to Dallas after graduating from a local community college. She went in search of a good job with the secret hope of also finding a wealthy husband. You know, you think of Dallas and visions of wealthy oilmen fill your head.
Anyway, she quickly found an apartment and a job and as soon as she received her first paycheck, she went out for a day of shopping. She was totally amazed when she ran across a “Husband Shopping Center.” Dallas was just one surprise after another, she thought. She was a little fearful that it was a shady business but it was in a very upscale part of the shopping district and it looked like very respectable women were going in to shop, so she thought, “Why not? Finding a husband is one reason I came here.” So she went in.
The first floor was filled with beautiful clothing and jewelry and in the middle was a huge sign by an elevator which read “Enter and GO UP FOR HUSBANDS. You may only enter once. Once you go up a floor, you can’t go back down except to exit the building. HAPPY SHOPPING!”
On the 2nd floor, a sign read, “Floor 2: These men have jobs and love kids.” The woman read the sign and thought, “Well, that’s better than not having jobs or not loving kids, but I wonder what’s further up.” So up she goes.
The 3rd floor sign read, “Floor 3: These men have high-paying jobs, love kids and are extremely good looking.” “Hmmm, better,” said the woman, “but I wonder what’s further up?”
The 4th floor sign read “Floor 4: These men have high-paying jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking and help with the housework.” “Wow,” said the woman, “very tempting. BUT, there’s more further up!”
And so again, she goes up. On the 5th floor the sign reads, “Floor 5: These men have high-paying jobs, love kids, are extremely good-looking, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak. “Oh, mercy me,” she said. “But, just think what must be awaiting me further up?”
So up she goes. The sign read “Floor 6: This floor is just to prove that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping.”
Hopefully, you women aren’t as hard to please and will listen to me with an open heart and receive the message God has put on my heart to share with you.