Think Positive

-Written by Royce and Judy Bailey 1992

That dreaded word NO. Often equated with the rules of the church--NO you can’t do this or NO you can’t do that. How would Christ have dealt with each situation when NO or saying something worse is the easiest answer available?

We said BC (Before Children) that we would never do the things we disliked about how our parents raised us but we have found (surprising to us) the same words coming out of our mouths, including NO.

NO, you can’t eat in-between meals, you should have eaten more for breakfast

NO, you can’t stand up on the kitchen table

NO, you must sit here until we are finished with worship

NO, you must not throw your peas on the floor when we have asked you to clean your plate

NO, you may not take your dress off during church

NO, you can not draw on the wall with that red magic marker.

We have come to hate this word due to our own overuse. What seems to achieve positive results more quickly is re-enforcing the good behavior which is desired. We recently knelt down to have worship and prayer and Jillionna (2 1/2 yrs.) decided she was going to test our authority by heading the opposite direction with her baby buggy. Josianne at the same time was quietly kneeling with her tiny hands folded showing reverence to God. (We are still working on closed eyes during prayer). By praising Josianne’s good behavior, Jillionna quickly returned, knelt down and folded her hands to receive the same parental approval. No one had to reprimand and say that dreaded word NO. This has worked consistently (as long as we remember to us it).

This same approach can work with adults in the grocery store, bank line and other frustrating situations by looking for the positive. We have found it opens the door to conversion and friendship instead of strife (Prov. 9:7-9, 10:18-21, 11:9, 12:14, 15:1-2). Christ surely encourages the positive in us and we should strive to emulate this in our daily walk with HIM.