If you want to see the rainbow

"How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don't stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit!" Psalm 1:1 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Beware of people with big "buts." They tell you to trust God, but É . They want you to think positive, but É . They encourage you to keep believing, butÉ . They'd hate to see you throw in the towel, but É .

I wish all of us could always see the glass as half-full, though sometimes we see it as half-empty with enough straws in it to suck Lake Michigan dry. That's when we need people around us who are faith-sayers, not naysayers.

I have a hunch Noah's wife had more than her share of folks around her with big "buts."

"But ma'am, what your family needs is a nice little ski boat for your three sons and their wives."

"But your husband spends all his time and the family's money on his pet project while you haven't treated yourself to a shopping spree at the mall in how many years?"

"But the Jewish Yacht Club will never extend a membership invitation when you show up at their dock in a tub like that!"

"But this neighborhood is only zoned for single-family residential living -- not an all-of-creation critter condo!"

And the city ordinance that stated, "You may live on a houseboat. But you can only have five pets."

Her glass might have been half-full, but her boat certainly wasn't. Her life was a zoo! Somehow, though, I don't picture her dialing Dr. Phil for advice. Negative neighbors and rainy days did not get her down.

Yes, she had to scoop a lot of elephant poop. But she had incredible fertilizer for her tomatoes.

She never got to dine out or run by the drive-through to pick up a carryout dinner. She had to slave over a hot stove for every meal. Instead of complaining about having to cook all the time, she rejoiced because she knew there'd always be plenty of water for washing the dishes. (What a woman -- sit down, Martha Stewart!)

She learned that fleas and mice can multiply a whole lot in 382 days, but she discovered that they make great pet treats when the monkeys and cats tire of Purina.

Noah's wife warbled with bird choirs every morning, waltzed with butterflies, lollygagged with lions, cradled cobras and danced the flamenco to tunes rendered by Ma and Pa Rattlesnake.

God gave her a line on every person's pedigree papers.

And he let her see the first rainbow.

Noah's wife did what all of us should do. She ignored the doubters because she recognized that God has a good plan for our lives. The Bible puts it this way in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." So no matter what the devil and the doubters tell you, God wants you to have an awesome life.

Proverbs 23:17,18 advises: "Don't envy sinners, but follow the example of those who always fear God; for then you will have a future; what you hope for will not be cut off."

In other words, if we can stay positive, avoid people with big "buts," and keep our "buts" out of God's business, we'll sail through the storms that flood our lives. And maybe, just maybe, we'll get to see a rainbow!

June Seabaugh is a member of Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau.