Attitudes Affect Attitudes

Today was an in-home art class day. There were two new students in the first class , and I was amazed at how their attitudes affected the attitudes of the two students who were in the class last semester.

These new children had very negative attitudes, both towards the other students and towards being in the class itself. While last year the two original students had been constantly complimenting each other on their work, they hardly spoke a word this class.

Contrast this with effects of a cheerful attitude in one of the classes which came afterward.

Last year, these students had enjoyed the class and been friendly with each other, but a new student came this semester and her laughter and happiness is affecting the whole group. They are much more talkative and laugh at anything even remotely funny (last year it had to be hilarious before they would giggle).

My point? Our attitudes affect those of others. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22) and my art students are here to prove it.

Now, to cheer up one class and reduce the mirth of the other to a more manageable level.