Optimist Roundtable
By Martha Sykes
As our new year begins on a Sunday this year, it will be nice to be able to gather with other believers and worship God together. There will undoubtedly be many prayers in our churches, for God to bless us with peace, love, and hope for 2023.
There is a kindergarten class in a town in California that runs their own free hotline which they call Peptoc!! There is a phone number people can call to get inspired by the enthusiasm of children. The teachers who created Peptoc said they were inspired to do so after witnessing how their young students kept a positive attitude in the face of hard times.
When we stop and think about it, our kids have been through the Covid – 19 pandemic, when they had to wear masks , or be quarantined at times, and learn by being taught at home remotely on a laptop. It wasn’t easy. And yet, if you’ve been around children, it is obvious that they remained hopeful, positive and are always energetic( especially before Christmas).
Children often see things with fresh eyes, and a childlike faith. As I work around them at our elementary school, they always amaze me with their outlook on life.
I read where one little boy, age 7, said to someone who wanted to get in shape, ”Run around the backyard like a dog does. He seems like he’s in pretty good shape”. Good advice for those who want to improve their exercise routine.
Another child’s advice went like this when someone called this hotline, “ If you are nervous, go get your wallet and spend it on ice cream and shoes. You’ll feel much better.”
If nothing else, we have learned that our lives are affected by our circumstances that are simply beyond our control. Whether it’s disasters, tragedies, sickness, or even grief, we know there are powerful forces that try to drag us down. We’ve learned that we can become experts at being afraid, because we never know what will come our way.
But we have to believe that God is always working out His plans and promises even in the worst of times. It seems like there are always people struggling, friends are suffering, and peace seems so far away. We’ve learned to move forward in faith and confidence no matter how difficult it is. We can move forward into the next year, knowing that God is always with us and believe that God’s plans and promises never fail.
My one prayer will be that you all can move into another year with a strong faith in God and keep a positive attitude like our children do. Wishing you hope, good health, and happy times in 2023!!
