Nov
19
2021
Intentionally Glad
Posted in Worship 4 Comments
This Whisper was originally published in July, 2014. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought that it needed to be shared again. Whispers of His Movement will be on a short break so that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family. As God allows, a new Whisper will be published on November 30.
I found myself thinking about a movie.
It is one that I watched with my children, but I haven’t seen in a while.
It still makes me smile every time I think of it.
It is the story of Pollyanna.
Pollyanna is a best-selling 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter.
Walt Disney brought the story to life in his 1960 film.
It was this movie and one particular scene that I was remembering.
I think God brought it to mind for a reason.
Pollyanna is the story of the fictional character, Pollyanna Whittier.
Pollyanna was an orphan who came to live with her grudging but dutiful Aunt Polly.
Aunt Polly Harrington is a wealthy woman whose wealth controls the town.
The town wants to tear down a deteriorating orphanage and rebuild it.
Aunt Polly objects so strongly that the townspeople are afraid to defy her.
Despite Aunt Polly’s objections, the townspeople want to have a bazaar to raise funds.
Many of the people want the minister to lend his support from the pulpit.
Aunt Polly even tries to manipulate the minister and his sermons with her suggestions.
Pollyanna has a note to deliver to Reverend Ford.
She listens to him as he is trying to formulate his Sunday sermon.
She is surprised at what she hears.
It was nothing like the Glad Game her missionary father had taught her.
She and Reverend Ford begin to talk.
“Yes, and I used to ask him just as I did you if he was glad he was a minister.”
The man under the tree smiled a little sadly.
“Well–what did he say?”
“Oh, he always said he was, of course, but ‘most always he said, too, that he wouldn’t STAY a minister a minute if ’twasn’t for the rejoicing texts.”
“The–WHAT?” The Rev. Paul Ford’s eyes left the leaf and gazed wonderingly into Pollyanna’s merry little face.
“Well, that’s what father used to call ’em,” she laughed. “Of course the Bible didn’t name ’em that. But it’s all those that begin ‘Be glad in the Lord,’ or ‘Rejoice greatly,’ or ‘Shout for joy,’ and all that, you know–such a lot of ’em. Once, when father felt specially bad, he counted ’em. There were eight hundred of ’em.”
“Eight hundred!”
“Yes–that told you to rejoice and be glad, you know; that’s why father named ’em the ‘rejoicing texts.’ “
“Oh!” There was an odd look on the minister’s face. His eyes had fallen to the words on the top paper in his hands–“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” “And so your father–liked those ‘rejoicing texts,’ ” he murmured.
“Oh, yes,” nodded Pollyanna, emphatically. “He said he felt better right away, that first day he thought to count ’em. He said if God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must want us to do it–SOME. And father felt ashamed that he hadn’t done it more. After that, they got to be such a comfort to him, you know, when things went wrong; when the Ladies’ Aiders got to fight–I mean, when they DIDN’T AGREE about something,” corrected Pollyanna, hastily. “Why, it was those texts, too, father said, that made HIM think of the game–he began with ME on the crutches–but he said ’twas the rejoicing texts that started him on it.”
“And what game might that be?” asked the minister.
“About finding something in everything to be glad about, you know. As I said, he began with me on the crutches.”
What a gift Pollyanna received from her father.
The gift of looking for things to be glad about.
That tender scene has stayed in my mind all these years.
The minister was ready to preach on the woes of Scripture; and he was challenged.
The Glad Game is not fluff.
It is not Truth watered down so it is palatable.
It is balance.
It is looking for the good and the joyful and finding it in everything.
That perspective is biblical.
That perspective is necessary, because life in this fallen world is hard.
Pollyanna reminded Reverend Ford that there is joy in the Gospel.
There is joy in Christ; there is joy in God’s Word.
In her honesty and innocence she helped the minister remember.
Remember that though there are woes in Scripture there is abundant joy.
Joy that must be preached.
Joy that must be lived out.
If Christians look like they just ate a lemon, how will anyone see the joy of the Lord?
If we speak only of the woes and the trouble and the sorrow, how will they see rejoicing?
If we live as if we are under the weight of the world, how will they know freedom in Christ?
If we only show the suffering, how will they taste victory?
Dictionaries now define a “Pollyanna” as a person who is foolishly optimistic.
So be it.
Being a fool is biblical, too; We are fools for Christ! (1 Corinthians 4:10)
Fools who are wise in Him; fools who find joy in the pain.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
(Philippians 4:4-8)
Eight hundred glad texts.
Find them; read them; memorize them.
Make the Glad Game a part of your daily routine.
Rejoice and be glad!
It is the Biblical thing to do!
Happy Thanksgiving Gina! Let’s rejoice and be glad so others may see the Christ in us!
Joyfully,
Nancy
Amen, Nancy.
Yes! Rejoice and be glad!
Gina
I love this! It is so true that sometimes we Christians become so enmeshed in the wrongs in society we forget the joy to be found in Christ and in His Word. Finding the 800 glad texts is something I want to….thank you for this welcome reminder.
Sue,
I would like to find them as well.
A noble task, so needed now.
Blessings,
Gina