The Glad Game

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Pollyanna, who was intent on finding the "glad side" to every misfortune or situation she encountered. The whole town had previously been consumed by their negativity and lost in their melancholy, but Pollyanna played "the Glad Game" with such innocence that she melted the hearts of everyone and changed their lives forever.

Once upon a time there was a little girl whose mother read to her the story of Pollyanna. They read at bedtimes, they read at daybreak. Once upon a time, this mother and daughter took a trip to Kansas together for a beautiful wedding of said-girl's godmother.

They read "Pollyanna" at the airport and on the plane. On their return journey together, they missed their connecting flight and found themselves stuck in Minnesota without another direct flight home. At once, mom, feeling overwhelmed from traveling with a 1 year old and 5 year old, tired from dragging 2 kids, a suitcase, a car seat, and a stroller through the large airport, and anxious to get home to her husband and other daughter, began to cry. Surrendering to the fact that instead of just one more flight, they now would have TWO more flights that day, and would have to wait around for 5 hours for the first one, the mother and daughter found a restaurant to sit in. The mother gained control of herself, straightened her posture, and told her daughter that despite her initial sadness, she was glad to get to have a leisurely lunch with her. The girls eyes lit up, a light bulb went on, and she responded, "There is always something to be glad about, Mom!"

The energy at the table changed instantly. Mother and daughter together began to list the many positive things about their situation. The girl was giddy that she was "being like Pollyanna."

True that it was not ideal, and true they missed home and sister and daddy, but:
1) if they hadn't missed their flight, they wouldn't have been able to enjoy lunch (in fact, they wouldn't have been able to eat lunch at all)
2) because they missed their flight, they could have fun browsing the kiosks and trying on funny hats

3) because their missed their flight, they could allow the baby a chance for a nap

4) because they missed their flight, they could finish reading "Pollyanna" together, and then play with sticker books.

5) because they missed their flight, they could play at the airport playground

6) because they missed their flight, they met a novice sister with SOLT, heard her story, and are now able to pray for her by name.
7) because they missed their flight, they both got a foot-massage

8) and even though they, sadly, they would miss Mass that day (a Sunday at that), they could have peace that their Heavenly Father knew their hearts desires and would be satisfied with offering prayers together and making a spiritual communion.

A very depressing situation turned into one the best days this mother and daughter had ever spent together.

Thank you, Pollyanna.

Amazing: the power of positive thinking. It can truly transform a day, a moment, a person, it can transform relationships- with others, and with God. The mom in this story will be forever grateful to the Lord for that missed flight. In fact, she will praise the Lord for all the "missed flights" in her life;" that is, the moments and situations that initially make her sad, but if she looks (sometimes very hard), she can see the good that He has planned. And even if she doesn't see it, she can know its there, for He IS Goodness.