Apples Of Gold In Pictures Of Silver
T's the season of thanksgiving and gladness!  

Two  characters in literature portray the polar opposites in negativity and optimism.
D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers is so hateful that even a smile arouses his anger and hate.  
Polyanna, the namesake in Polyanna, represents the true spirit of optimism and gladness.

It is sad that today when someone says you are being "Pollyannaish", he or she is most likely not giving you a compliment.  Usually, he is she is intimating that you are very naive, childish, and unaware of the true harshness of life.

It is a truism that you can't find happiness in a negative attitude.
Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "We have every reason to be optimistic in this world.  
Tragedy is around, yes.  Problems everywhere, yes...You can't, you don't build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen."

Mark Twain once commented that he could live two months on one good compliment!

And who isn't amazed by the words of  Proverbs 25:11 painting a picture of what a kind word may look like?   "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

Finally, the words of Johnny Mercer's song were good advice then and good advice now according to Thomas S. Monson.  Who wouldn't agree?
"Accentuate the positive;
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative;
Don't mess with Mr. In-between."

Church News  Be A Voice Of Gladness  Week of November 9, 2014