Ray of Sunshine or Little Gray Cloud?

When people see you coming, what is the first thought they have?  Is it, "Oh great, can't wait to hear what's got her riled up today." or "Well, here comes Mr. Sunshine (NOT)." or how about, "Here comes the latest gossip, whether I want to hear it or not."  We're all guilty of having a bad attitude sometimes.  We all get down, and we all get upset occasionally.  But when we let that dominate our personality, when we turn our thoughts inward and constantly think about what's wrong with our lives, we end up sad, depressed and lonely.  No one wants to be around someone who is always fussing about things, always complaining.  The best thing to do when you start feeling this way is to go and do something nice for someone else.  Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  I've been around people that made me feel like my bones were drying up while they complained, hahaha!  Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Are we "giving grace" to those who hear what we have to say?  I know I fail at this frequently.  I'm not saying we can't talk to our friends about our troubles sometimes.  We all need someone to talk to, who can give us good advice when we're having a problem.  But, when it becomes the ONLY thing we talk about, we need to stop and re-evaluate our focus.  I see it in little children at school all the time.  Several times this year I've been in the mail room/nurse's office, on a day the nurse is out, when a child has come in crying with a small cut on their knee.  All they can think about is the cut and the blood and the stinging pain.  But, if you talk to them, and give them a little something to smile or giggle about as you clean the cut and put a band-aid on, they start to forget about the cut, dry their tears and end up leaving with a smile.  I'm not quite there yet, but that's the kind of person I want to be.  The kind of person that people see coming and think, "Oh good, here comes my friend who makes me feel good inside and makes me smile."  There are always going to be days where you have to look for the good.  But as the saying goes, "there is always, always, always something to be thankful for!"  You can either be a ray of sunshine or a little gray cloud.

1 Peter 4:8-10
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's grace."