Do You See the Silver Lining?

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Grandma and Grandpa wanted to take their grandchildren to the toy store and buy them scooters with the spare change that they had collected for quite some time. Their spare change, collected every evening before going to bed and put in a jar, had grown to a whopping $450. The three grandchildren children went into the toy store and picked out scooters.

Now all the children had "wheels." One of the granddaughters, Allison, has always had wheels on her wheelchair, being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. Allison has always had a positive attitude. She had never let her disability get to her. Allison has always focused on her strengths rather than dwell on her losses.

After the children were given their scooters, Allison's father, Richard, was about to begin the process of loading Allison's wheelchair back into the van via a motorized lift. Before he could load the van an urchin boy came up to the family with a plea for $2, money the boy stated that he and his mother needed for a motel room that night. As the adults told the boy that they had no money for him, the grandfather and Allison noticed a mother with a dog standing approximately 15 feet away.

Allison quickly rode up to the boy and his mother in her wheelchair, opened her zipper purse, and gave the boy a $1 bill. The boy and his mother thanked Allison and let her pet their dog.

Then Allison rode back to the rest of her family and said, "I am so lucky...lucky I remembered my purse today."

Allison will not let her disability get to her. No matter what "cards are dealt to her," she always looks for the "silver lining."

How do you look at your situation in life? Do you see the silver lining or do you see the troubles? Today why not make it a goal to be like Allison.

Dear Lord, we pray today that we would not look at our circumstances and get down but that we would see the silver lining. Help us always be positive and look for the blessing that You give us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.