Words to Live By: "I CHOOSE"

No picture this time, just some very inspirational words shared by my friend Donna.
Last Sunday I wasn't feeling very well, but decided that I really should go to choir practice which is scheduled 1 hour before church starts. I got there late at 9:10, the same time the choir director arrived. We practiced two hymns for 10 minutes then at 9:20 he called on a choir member to offer a closing prayer. Many of us were stunned but no one really said anything---our faces however, spoke volumes. What were we supposed to do for 40 minutes until church started? My attitude was obviously dripping with frustration and criticizm when I commented to my friend Donna that I wasn't going to make the effort to come early to choir any more. She had arrived 5 minutes after I did! That's when she gently taught me this lesson. She said, "I'll tell you the way I prefer to look at it Diane. I decided a long time ago that I get to choose to be happy in spite of circumstances around me. For instance, at first I was disappointed that I only got to sing with the choir for 5 minutes but then I realized I could be happy that the early release had just afforded me the opportunity to visit with my friend Diane, whom I rarely get to talk to. " She shared this insight with me in a loving, teaching way, not a judgemental one. I used her words many times this past week. I reminded myself almost every day on my way to the high school that I had the opportunity to choose how I would respond to any unpleasant circumstances that might arise. It Made a Huge Difference in my week! Thanks Donna. You are my inspiration!