Have you ever noticed how some trees take forever to drop their dead leafs?

I was thinking how these trees were a lot like me. Why on earth did I hang on to things that were dead for so long? We all know that worry, anger, bitterness, jealously, etc. do not add one thing to our lives. They are draining. When some unhappy thought (dead leaf) would come to my mind, either tears would fill my eyes or I would feel angry. However, I would still hold on to them instead of letting them go.

I use to think I had a 'right' to feel this negative way. Yes, I did, that was a fact! But I started to see that this was a wrong way to think. It seemed right at the time, but it wasn't at all. I had a 'right' to be happy and at peace too, but I didn't realize that.

My dad had a saying, "You think you know, but you don't know." That was so true! I thought I had a right to feel the way I did. But I didn't know I had a right to let these things go and be happy too. I thought I knew, but I didn't!

It was enlightening for me to read the Bible and learn that I could replace these draining dead thoughts with a new way of thinking. I could drop the dead leafs in my life and let some new green leafs begin to grow.

When negative thoughts would try to fill my mind I found Philippians 4:8 to be very helpful. "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

I'll admit some draining thoughts do come to my mind at times. But now, I do know, that these can be replace by healthy thoughts that are life giving and make life a lot more enjoyable.