Pessimism vs. Optimism
I was standing in line at the grocery store recently and caught myself being selfishly upset. The place was packed (double coupon day) and the lady in front of me was holding me up. She had two grocery carts filled to the brim and overflowing with food. She carried a small child in her arms while one child rode along and another walked along with her. Waiting for the cashier to scan the groceries was difficult enough, but then came the coupons. I think a full five minutes went by as the cashier scanned enough coupons to bind into a novel.
So, there I was—upset, impatient, and scowling—it was
not until I went home that I felt guilty. So often, we have the tendency
to look at the negatives (couldn’t she leave a kid or two at home?),
instead of the positives. We tend to have a pessimistic view of others
(is she trying to win the grocery-shopper of the month award or what?)
rather than expressing optimism.
So, as I “looked on the bright side” I tried to think of the wonderful
things about this woman. Obviously, in her life she was doing what the
apostle Paul taught women to do—bear children, manage the house (1 Tim.
5:14). She was obviously being thrifty and trying to save money for her
household, like the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31. How grateful
her husband must be to have a wife that keeps the family in order while
he is away at work (Titus 2:3-5).
So, next time, while waiting in line, instead of showing irritability,
it could be admiration. Paul writes, “Let nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his
own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus...” (Philippians 2:3-5).
Think about it.
July 2005