I remember growing up and adults talking about their glass either being half empty or half full. I would roll my eyes and think to myself well when your milk is over halfway gone your glass is half empty. It didn’t seem to be rocket science to me, however they never asked me. I got into high school and can remember hearing that saying again in one of my classes. However, this time we actually talked about what it meant. That day in class I quietly chuckled to myself, because I really thought it had to do with where your milk or pop was in your glass. It was to my surprise there was a message behind the half empty or half full glass. It wasn’t until I lost my son Tyler that I started thinking about that saying again and the meaning behind it.

It all started a week prior to my son Tyler’s memorial balloon release. A friend and I were talking about the message I would be giving that day. I am so blessed to have great friends that God places in my life at the perfect time. Our talk was about how people feel when they leave the cemetery after the balloon release. Do they feel sad and depressed because we are bringing back a sad time and we are at the cemetery? Or are we remembering the good? So what she was saying is to me is, my cup half empty or half full?

It really helped me to think about my message and what Tyler would want me to share. Tyler never liked it when I was stressed or sad. He always looked at the positive and found the good in a situation. He would want us to find the good, he would want us to be happy and celebrate the 15 years we had together.

It was six days before the five-year anniversary of Tyler’s accident. It would be very easy to see my glass as half empty because I am missing my blue-eyed boy. But, I chose to change the mood at the balloon release to a happy, uplifting one, and to celebrate. I know not everyone is comfortable at the cemetery, but I think celebrating all the good memories we had and knowing Tyler would have wanted it that way made it easier. We came together to remember Tyler and many others who had lost loved ones, but we also celebrated the time we had with them.

We left that day with our cups half full.

Since the balloon release, that saying has been on my mind. I have taken some time to think about how I am looking at my life.

A recent week with all rainy and gloomy days made me feel down in the dumps. But, then all of a sudden I remembered that special time that I danced in the rain with my kids and it put a smile on my face and warmed my heart.

My cup half full.

Or the days I feel alone, the tears run down my face, my problems seem like mountains and I don’t think there is a way out. That is when I am reminded that God gives us a new day each morning to start over.

My cup half full.

We can use our trials and trouble to cause our cups to be half empty. Or we can look for the smallest of small good and our cups will begin to fill up. I have found that when I hurry on my day and forget to read my devotion and scripture that my cup tends to be half empty or bone dry!

We are reminded in Psalm 118:24,” This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” He did not tell us to only be happy on days that are easy. He told us to be happy because he gave us this day. Each day is a gift from God. Look forward to a great day, a day that God has already planned out for each of us. We need to stop being so busy that “our plans” get in the way of GOD’S PLANS.

Take a minute and look back on your day. Did you allow the troubles in your life to empty your glass? Or did you turn around the situation to find the positive to fill your glass half full?