Love.

Later, in Chapter 22, Eleanor Porter has Pollyanna explaining the Glad Game to Rev. Paul Ford. Speaking about her father, notice how Pollyanna innocently expounds the Scripture to the parson:

"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." Love is a choice. Love is an active choice...just like the glad game. I believe with all of my heart that God intends for us to be happy....to love...to be loved. It is still a choice. An active choice we must make every day. I pray that I always remain open to love in my life...both in the giving and receiving. It isn't always easy. It means we must be willing to be hurt. It means (in some ways) we must be willing to hurt others. Be glad today for the love in your life. Strive to love more. Note to Self ~ Love never fails...*pause* only God's love never fails. Our love fails all the time...why? We are human. So when love fails you or you it...learn and choose to love again. Endeavor to persevere. Love is a choice. If you choose love, you will be glad you did. Love. Love often. Simply love. Sunshine Dreams to You ~ Today and Every Day! :)