Optimism Doughnuts Or Holes

What do you see when you go to Tim Horton’s?  In the display case filled with good things to eat, what catches your eye to go with that cup of “double/double?”  Someone has said, “An optimist sees the doughnut and the pessimist sees the hole.” 

The Bible tells us there are three important things in life and faith is the first of them.  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)  

When life is filled with these three qualities, we’ll not only see all the doughnuts there are to choose from but we’ll enjoy the sweet smells, hear the laughter of children around us as they enjoy their doughnuts, see the sunshine coming through the window, and just generally be grateful for a rich and satisfying life. We miss so much of life because we are “seeing the holes rather than the doughnuts.” 

Harry Truman was president of the United States during the Second World War - a time of great trouble throughout the world.  Truman experienced more of the trouble than many because of his position as president.  In the middle of hard times, President Truman said this:  “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” 

The trauma and pain that led us to addiction as well as the hardship and hopelessness that kept us there are like the hole in the middle of the doughnut.  We can continue to complain about the hole, or we can invite God to surround us with beautiful and sweet things that feed our souls and cause us to delight in our new life in recovery

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.  (Psalm 16:11 NLT)

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT)

God is aware that our lives, past, present, and even our future, will have challenges – holes – but God’s plan is to surround all the holes in our lives with everything we need for a life that is fulfilling and enjoyable.  What will we choose to see today?

©2015 Partners in Hope