The Things We Think On

It is amazing to me how God works; how He uses others to impress upon me what is so important to Himself.  Let me tell you about a short trip and a visit yesterday.Only 90 miles from my home in the south Denver metro area I have a cousin who is a widow, a few years older than myself, and who either has Alzheimer's disease or dementia.  Since finding out about her illness, I have made the trip up the mountain several times to check in on her ... though she has some people from her church who are caregivers, Carolyn lives at home by herself.  She is progressing in the disease to where it may be necessary to have someone there with her daily instead of just someone checking in on her.
Anyhow, just yesterday I drove up and met her and a friend at a restaurant for lunch.  We had a great visit and Carolyn seemed upbeat.  Her friend told me that she had come by to pick up Carolyn for church on Sunday and that Carolyn was very weepy and sad ... it took several hours of talking and care to get her beyond this.  I asked Carolyn what seems to make her sad and as best that she could remember, she tried to tell me about some things that, to me, seemed trivial.  However, they were not trivial to her at the time.
I shared with her how God wants us to think on "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 – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
Carolyn smiled and said, "Ok."
Now, realistically, unless God opens her mind to these good things (for which He is more than able to do for her) she likely will fall into the trap of what some have called "stinkin thinkin" again.
Then I began to think about my own mind.  I don't have any excuse for getting depressed; for falling into the trap of "stinkin thinkin."  But, I still do it, more than I would like to admit.  How do I stop this incessant attitude failure?  I mean, my goodness, look at what I have (much more than I need), I have a beautiful and godly wife, a lovely family, and look at where I am bound (heaven).  So, why do I get caught up in the things that bring me down into the pit of dispair.
Like Carolyn, I need to simply say "Ok" and then trust God to take care of what lies ahead, "forgetting what lies behind, and press on toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ" as the Apostle Paul tells us.
Carolyn, for most of the time is a sweet and happy person, and I pray that she will live out her days, if nothing else, with joy.  And so must I.
What about you?