AND THE WINNER IS....

Two days ago my husband got a phone call while he was at work.  It was the pharmacy assistant calling from our families' regular pharmacy.  She said, "Joe, you won!"  He asked, "Won what?"  She proceeded to tell him that his name had been drawn in their give-away for a flat-screened TV.  But he told her he hadn't ever entered the contest.  She assured him that he really did win, but he still thought it was a joke and didn't believe it.                

A little later in the day, one of Joe's co-workers was going to Altus (about 30 min. away and where our pharmacy is located) and Joe asked her to pick up some asthma meds for the boys.  He also said, "Oh, yeah, and if I really won that TV, bring it back, too!"  Well, here's proof: Joe won the TV! Now, the reason Joe didn't think it he had really won is because (and I quote) "I never win anything."  Joe never remembers  winning any prize, give away or anything like that at all.  He's typically not "lucky", we could say. 

On the other hand, I remember winning lots of things in the past.  When I was little, I registered to win karate lessons while at the county fair.  I won, but didn't take the lessons (wouldn't have wanted to, either).  Another time I won a life jacket from the county fair.  I do remember using it a few times.  The one thing I won several years ago was a pig canister set door prize at a "Taste of Home" cooking show.  Although I wasn't a pig-in-my-kitchen type, it was a very nice prize donated by one of the merchants sponsoring the cooking show. 

What I remember most about "winning" things was at the annual Lions' Club Carnival in my hometown: Eldorado, Oklahoma.  My dad gave a donation to the Lions Club at the end of the carnival - right before prizes were given away.  He won a TV.  But then, the next year he did the same thing and won again!  So, being the oldest, I got to have the third TV in my room.  It was amazing that he won the TV's two years in a row!  I don't always think I'll win, but I always know there's a big possibility I will if I enter something. I guess its an "optimistic attitude" towards winning.

Some of our children have also won various drawings and give-aways at school and races (running races they enter where door prizes are given away).  One of our children, Zachary, especially seems to win a lot. In fact, it's almost as he EXPECTS to win. Another one, Jacob, doesn't typically win very often (The other two are kind of in the middle!).  But, with Jacob, it's almost like he expects NOT to win.

This whole "winning" thing causes me to think about God and also about mental attitudes.  Do you suppose that since Joe believed, "I never win anything." that he didn't for so long?  Or do you suppose because Zachary believes he is going to win something helps with his abundant success in winning door prizes and awards?  I believe it does.  I believe God uses those simple things - like our optimism and pessimism to teach us lessons and help us grow in our faith.  If you and I believe it, we can achieve it!

Jesus taught His disciples several times about what their optimistic faith could accomplish:  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Now, in life, it doesn't really matter whether we win door prizes and giveaways or not.  No "things" don't matter at all in the scope of eternal life.  But, what does matter is our attitude and our faith...not in what WE can do, but in what GOD can do in your life and in my life, but also what God can do THROUGH us.  Just think about all of the ways God could use us if we used optimistic faith every day of our lives!  Just imagine how we could spread the Good News about Jesus if we used this optimistic faith.  More than we could ever, ever imagine.

About the TV.  We only have one TV in our home.  Wonder what we'll do with this new one????