This morning, I’m sitting at my desk, looking out across the lake. As I do, I’m keenly aware of the different things that are going on around me. The trees are budding, my neighbor is working on his yard, and the sky is overcast. There aren’t any boats out today because it’s too cold, but soon that will change. The birds are back and forth from one feeder to another, hoping, I’m sure, that I will replenish their supply soon. I’m sure there is much going on that I can’t see but that is nevertheless important to the scheme of things. All in all, it is a peaceful morning, and I am reminded that life is good.

I’ve thought a lot about that idea—that life is good. It saddens me to hear people complain about it—about life, that is. They look at life as a chore, something that must be done. They must get up, go to work, or mow the lawn. Life seems more to do with what they must do rather than what they get to do. Rather than getting excited about the many possibilities before them, they curse the day from the moment they get up to the time they go to bed, even putting a curse upon the day that is coming with similar comments about what they must do tomorrow. When will we learn that we have the creative power in our words to bring both blessings and curses?

When I think of all that I get to do on any given day, I get excited. Even through and despite my aches and pains, I get to go walk every morning. I get to choose what I do or don’t do. That doesn’t mean that I always like what I do, but I still get to choose it. There are some things that I’d like to do that I can’t. Sometimes that’s because I need help, but there are other things that I simply can’t do—and it’s okay. Life is still good.

I admit that I don’t know what’s going on in your life—what you’ve had to experience or endure—but I do know this: life is still good. Why? Because we all have a choice in how we’re going to respond. We get to choose to celebrate life despite its hardship. Because of this, life is good. Think about it.