When my husband catches a cold, he ignores it as much as possible, or if by chance he injures himself in some way and I inquire how he is getting along with his ailment, he replies, “Fine,” then usually changes the subject. It puzzled me that he would hardly discuss it. Then one day I realized he was doing so because he was giving his attention to wellness, not dwelling on illness. Does that make sense? Can our state of mind contribute to illness? It must have worked for him because his times of sickness and injury has not been long lasting. Of course we should take care of our bodies, which he learned to do in the Quaker family he was raised in, but he also learned the biblical admonishment in Philippians 4:8 . . . whatsoever things are of good report, think on these things. I think this was ingrained in his mind as a very young child and had a great effect on the successes he achieved financially, as a husband, father and friend to others. If we look toward the best, it can open the door toward a better outcome.

I used to spend time in the summer as counselor to, 5th 6th, 7th and 8th grade children. Julie, one little girl assigned to my cabin in a 5th and 6th grade camp had never attended camp before. She was wide eyed at all the new experiences she had been thrust into. When night time came, and our cabin group started to bed down for the night, she begin to cry,”Please,p,lease, call my Mom, I want to go home, I don’t like it here.” Of course this aroused the entire cabin, and what did I do? I began quietly to explain to her all the fun things we had planned for tomorrow, and two little girls just her age, offered to be her friends. Finally, after much assurance, she settled down and went to sleep as I sat by her bed.
When the next morning came however, the same thing happened; she be began begging for her Mom to be called. I convinced her to try it one day, with her two little friends who would be with her for all the activities. Finally a very uncomfortable child made reluctant plans to stay. She seemed to do some better that day, but at noon came to me asking to go home, then again at night time. Here we go again! I thought. Whatever can I come up with this time. I had discussed the situation with other counselors on staff, and they agreed with me that if she was allowed to go home, she would have to conquer this problem at a later stage in her life, so we agreed to pursue the cause. By this time I was losing sleep and wondering what to do with this child. I had never had a camper so obsessed with going home. The rest of the cabin couldn’t sleep because of her crying and it was time for lights out so I suggested instead, that we sing together some of the songs, we had learned at music time that day and that worked. She soon was off to sleep. The second morning came, she did not ask me to call her Mother, instead she began to dress quietly for the day. By Wednesday of that week, she was beginning to enjoy the activities and the new friends she had made. All seemed well and we rejoiced with her that she was winning the battle. We as counselors, were actually helping her to do what the Apostle Paul advised years ago,

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. . . whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Yes, we all have situations, where negative thinking can gain control in our lives, as a small child, and certainly later as adults, but we will handle
them better by concentrating on the positives available.


For what you water, usually grows!