The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

When I first moved to Big Sandy to a farm out southeast. A huge cottonwood tree greeted everyone at the start of our farm. Over the years, the tree was poisoned by weed spray from airplanes spraying the crops right above it. It finally died and stood for years with its white skin against the blue sky, but ultimately, my husband cut it down. Years later, I saw what I thought was a fantastic picture-a sunflower growing out of a dead tree stump. I've come to understand its message to me.

We poisoned the tree, not on purpose, but by accident. But we still poisoned it. We killed it. It was such an incredible tree!

The point is we poison our minds and our being as well. It's so difficult not to feel defeated when we are surrounded by negative people speaking poison to our being! Those negative comments do not tell us the truth! How can we continue to grow to become our best selves when surrounded by adverse reactions, negative thoughts, and negative inputs! It's a sorry place if the people surrounding us don't want us to excel. It is essential to find a solution to this poison! Create an action plan to remove yourself from it. If you find yourself thinking negatively, there is an answer to that. It says in the bible, "Finally,... 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice."... Philippines 4:8. Memorize this verse. Claim this verse. But this verse into action every day. Every time a negative thought is heard or thought comes to mind, that is negative stop immediately. Practice thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. Stop immediately and look into the blue of the sky. Listen to the birds, hear the laughter of children.

If negative thoughts have surrounded you, if you've listened to negative thoughts long enough, they will start to destroy you from within. But it isn't impossible to break out of it. It isn't impossible to feel free. From within, you can find a way to grow joy and beauty. You can stop the poison from continuing. Grow your own flower. Change how you think. Live life deliberately!