In 2007 mom wrote an email to me in response to some of my questions. I was trying to learn more about her. She said, “Do not be afraid to ask me questions, I love them from anyone.  It tells me people are thinking when they ask questions.  You can share with whoever you like.  It is all God’s story not mine, and He should get all the credit. He was watching out for me before I even knew He existed.  Most of my girlfriends were raped, but I was spared.  I grew up in a terrible neighborhood, but as I look back, I can see the hand of God upon me even while a babe in the crib, when my father tried to kill me. :-} Just proving He is in control of everything.” So, I share this with mom’s permission.

According to Investopedia, the fifth habit of successful people uses circular reasoning. In order to be successful, Joel Brown says you must have a positive attitude, but perhaps many have a positive attitude for the wrong reasons. They might have a positive attitude built on things that could disappear from their lives. (Joel Brown founded Addicted2Success, a Digital Media/News company in 2011. He is an Australian entrepreneur, blogger, speaker, coach and author.) He refers to gratitude and positive self-talk as priorities in the lives of very successful people. He says it’s not enough to express gratitude and a positive attitude. You must also remind yourself why you are grateful in order to achieve a deeper effect. (See: Investopedia and https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244458).

Positive “self-talk” can be deceiving talk. You can say “I am great” and “I am amazing” all day long, but that isn’t necessarily reality. For example, Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” God says if you deny his existence or his commands to worship only him, you are a fool. All the temporary “success” you might now be enjoying is temporary. It may be temporary in this life, but it can certainly quickly lose its glitter when you stand in the place of judgment. Romans 14:2 says, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Mom’s positive attitude wasn’t based on how smart, clever or good she was. She was clearly grateful to God for all he had done for her. Her success wasn’t because of who she was, but who her God was. And she had a habit of thanking God for her blessings and in telling others about her God and her Savior.