Monday, January 12, 2009

Playing the Glad Game

I don't know if you've seen the movie Pollyanna. It's a movie from 1960 about a little girl who is orphaned and sent to live with her cold aunt in an unfriendly town. She is optimistic and bright, and is always talking about playing the 'glad game' How every situation in life has something you can find to feel glad about. When her parents were alive they were missionaries and the family was very poor. For Christmas, Pollyanna was wishing for a doll for Christmas. Instead, a set of crutches were received in the missionary barrel. And they played the glad game- she was glad she didn't have to use them.

I'm NOT going to tell you to play the glad game about the loss of our children. I'm not going to say everything happens for a reason. If someone said that to me I'd smack them in the head. Although, now, nearly 7 years later, I have been able to discover some gifts I've received in my life due to Gabriel's loss. You can read that post here

I AM going to say that in my everyday life, though, I try to play the glad game when I can. I was thinking about it this week when my entire house was struck with the stomach flu. A nasty bug that cycled through the house and I watched my family succumb one by one and all I could do was keep the washing machine running and stay out of the way on their mad dashes to the bathroom.

So I started to play the glad game in the event that I were to get this bug- would there be anything to be glad about? What I came up with was this- it surely would kick start my new year's diet- a quick way to lose a few pounds.

Pretty thin, I know.

Nobody was sick yesterday. I'm starting to think maybe I dodged this bullet. Fingers crossed. And that is what I'm glad about today. It takes so little to make me happy these days.

I hope today is gentle (and illness free) for you
peace- emily

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope you don't get the bug! But I know what you mean, I think the same way-'well maybe I'll drop a few pounds'....lol!

Loved the movie Pollyanna as a kid.

Ter said...

I remember several years ago before I even moved out on my own, I was sick for the longest time (no one could tell me why, the doctor kept diagnosing it as "stomach flu" but it lasted several months, with short periods of feeling alright, a few days here and there) anyway, I always joke that the best part about that was how much weight I lost. Of course I've gained it all back, and then some... and then some more! ;)

Katherine Annis said...

I haven't seen Pollyanna but I do like the idea of the "Glad Game." Unfortunately, I did get that awful stomach flu a few weeks ago, though I did lose 8 and a half pounds in two days...(though most of that is back now!) I will try to keep this in mind in my daily activities though.

Zil said...

I'm impressed you can find a positive spot given the stomach turmoil in your household. You set a good example.