Thought for the Day - Friday 30 October

Thought for the Day – Friday 30th October ‘But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.’ (Micah 7: 7) Well, good morning it is Friday again – where are the weeks going! If life seems jolly rotten There's something you've forgotten And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing When you're feeling in the dumps Don't be silly chumps Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing…. Always look on the bright side of life…. These are words from the Monty Python song ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ and it reminds me of the saying that says, ‘It never hurts your eyesight to look at the bright side of life!’ I think at times we can look at ourselves and look at our life and life in general and find all the negative thoughts building up within us. We can then become so immersed in all these things which as the song says make life feel ‘jolly rotten’ that it can then feel so hard to get back into a positive frame of mind where we do have that sense of loving ourselves as we are and loving the world around us as God intends us to do. We have perhaps forgotten to laugh and smile and dance and sing! So as we seek to understand how to love ourselves, let’s try and make time for play – for the things which we actually like doing which make us laugh and smile and dance and sing because whatever age we are our inner child always needs re-creation! Maybe, even try talking and playing with children too because it can certainly bring out the unhurried little person inside you! Let’s allow ourselves to be lazy and unproductive at times too because rest isn’t a luxury it is a necessity and in those times of rest, let’s try and remember a happy or peaceful time in our past and then take time to rest there because each and every moment has a richness to it that actually takes a lifetime to savour. I am sure if we can take time to do these things and take time to, as the text says, ‘watch in hope for the Lord and wait for God our Saviour’ God will hear us in the midst of those things which we feel to be ‘jolly rotten’ and on hearing us I am sure he will help us to look once more on the brighter side of life and maybe even bring us to the point of laughing and smiling and dancing and singing as we banish the negative thoughts and replace them with the positive ones! Prayer Loving God, As the hymn says, teach us to dance to the beat of your heart, teach us to move in the power of your Spirit, teach us to walk in the light of your presence, teach us to dance to the beat of your heart. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Friday Fives: Okay, here are your fives for today! Name: 1. Five things you actually like to do. 2. Five things which make you smile. 3. Five songs which automatically make you dance. 4. Five situations which cause you to laugh aloud. 5. List your five happy or peaceful moments where you can rest with God.