Pretend that you have a beautiful mansion out in the country. The mansion is gilded with gold, chandeliers hanging from the lofty ceilings and velvet furniture  rich with brilliant color accent the interior. Paintings hang on the walls and classical music is commonly heard throughout the day.

You eat fresh organic food in the kitchen nook which overlooks a pasture and a pond. The wildlife is an exquisite view from the bay window of the nook

The birds wake you up with melodious harmony as the spring air wafts through your windows.

The temperature is always spring like –  just cool enough to not be cold and warm enough to not break a sweat.

You anticipate every day with joy but there is a vicious beast which constantly knocks on the door of your mansion. It appears at the most unlikely times and knocks with ferocity on the door to your palace.

Would you open the door if you knew that the beast would ransack your house?

No, nobody would do that.

Now pretend that your mind is that mansion. Imagine that the beast is memories. Specific memories which have caused you to feel betrayed or hurt.

Why do you let memories of betrayal or pain coming crashing through the door of your mind and heart?

To ruminate in self pity is to open the door wide for the vicious beast of betrayal to ransack your soul.

It doesn’t matter how loud the knocking becomes. It is your choice who you open the door to.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give to ourselves  is to allow our minds to focus on the good and praise God for whatever good we have. For if we focus on God’s goodness we have become successful in locking out the beast which seeks to devour our joy and ransack our heart.