Two Things Cannot Be in One Place

“One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live... surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place.""Where you tend a rose, my lad, A thistle cannot grow.”

―  Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

I love the story of "The Secret Garden."

One of my favorite passages is where they talk about replacing the bad thoughts that enter into your mind with good thoughts.

It is so easy to let our minds be over taken with sad and bad thoughts. Every day we wake up to violence and injustice happening in our world. We face the death of loved ones, health problems, or our hearts are broken over something we have no control over. I know it isn't always easy to replace those thoughts with good and happy thoughts. But if we don't, pretty soon we lose our happiness and purpose in life.

Sometimes ordinary little things can replace my sad thoughts. Maybe the music and words of a song, the smiles and laughter of my grand kids, the innocence of a new born baby, the touch of the wind on my face, the beauty of a flower, a hug, the smell of the rain on a warm summer day, a ripe tomato from the garden, the reddest juiciest watermelon in the world, the changing of the seasons, knowing I have an eternal home in heaven, and a God who is always in control.

The Bible verses that help me to find peace are  Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Whenever a thought enters your mind that shouldn't be there, think on honest, just, pure, lovely things and the God of peace shall be with you. Think on the things that give you happiness and peace.