Ecclesiastes 3:1,4: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:…a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…”

One of my morning Bible readings happened to come from a very depressing book (my opinion only) – Ecclesiastes. I am not saying that the Preacher is wrong in what he is saying. His attitude though reminds me of our human tendencies… We talk to God when WE are in trouble or need help… We want to write something down (“Dear Diary”) most of the time when we feel bad (I guess to get it out of our system)… We want “to share” with friends or sometimes anybody who would listen what worries, bothers us… I do not say it happens all the time but it does happen very often.

The book of the Preacher (Ecclesiastes) is a good example. I am exhausted, I am disappointed in people, work, life… (fill in the blanks). And that is why “ALL IS VANITY AND A STRIVING AFTER WIND”. I am not underestimating bad things that are happening in our lives. After four deaths and three memorial services in a very short period of time I thought I stopped feeling, could not fit any more grief in my heart. But… here comes this “but”. God is still good. People around us still have celebrations, great things happening in their lives that they should not feel guilty experiencing. Spring wind still pleasantly brushes against our faces, babies still contagiously smile, our pets still enthusiastically greet us, videos of puppies and kittens are still very cute…

We can choose joy, we can choose to be positive. We can choose to laugh after our time of weeping, we can choose to dance after our time of mourning. We can choose to write an encouragement to ourselves or someone else instead of dwelling on bad feelings. We can choose to praise God for good things that are still plentiful, give Him thanks instead of asking. We can choose to follow Philippians 4:4-8.