Happy

Who doesn’t love being happy? Who doesn’t long for those spontaneous moments of happy? Who doesn’t want to skip, jump, dance and sing at the very idea of happy? I personally love being happy!!! I even named my first pet just that- Happy. He was such a cute little rat- yes I said cute and rat together in the same sentence. He had a hairy little body, a long hairless tail, long twitchy whiskers, small beady eyes and he was very sweet. He was a gift from my Dad.

My Dad and I would often go on outings to the local pet store, followed by a scoop of bubble gum ice cream. On our usual visits we would enjoy walking the aisles observing all the animals; the playful and cuddly puppies and kittens; the scaly and creepy lizards and snakes, the googley-eyed fish swimming round and round their tanks; and the various furry little critters such as hamsters, Guinea Pigs and rats. We usually left the store empty-handed (except the time we left the store with 10 goldfish, but that’s a story for another time), but our hearts were full of fun memories.

The time I’m remembering here is when we left the store with Happy the rat. We brought Happy “home” to my Grandma and Tata’s house. I carried Happy up the steps of the front porch. He was in a little cardboard box with holes on the sides and a handle on the top. Happy you see, was going to be living at my Grandparents’’ house and I would get to visit him on weekends. He had a silver cage and a fun, squeaky wheel to run on. He did most of his running at night which I’m sure my Grandma enjoyed hearing as she tried to sleep.

On my visits I looked forward to playing with Happy; I would take him out of his cage and I would hold him, and pet him, and watch him run around.

One day I arrived at my grandparents to spend the weekend with my overnight bag in hand. I immediately went to look for Happy. I remember my Grandma taking me aside and gently explaining to me that Happy had recently died; he had gotten cancer and the tumor had grown very quickly. She assured me that Happy had passed peacefully; my Grandma put her arms around me and comforted me as tears flowed down my cheeks. I was sad that Happy had died and I was going to miss him.

Isn’t that how life is?  Happiness is truly fleeting; it comes for a moment, an hour, a day or a season. It leaves us with warm memories and a yearning for more happy. Happiness comes from favorable circumstances, and as we all know, circumstances can quickly change; they come and go. As fun as happy is, there is something more sustainable that will keep us going strong no matter what comes our way. It’s something that keeps us going in-between those happy times. It actually makes the happy happier, and the sad more tolerable. What is this “something”? It’s JOY!!! Joy is the deepest sense that all is well with your soul no matter what happens. Joy is the undercurrent that connects those dots of happy. Joy is Biblical. Joy is a choice in the focus of our mind. Joy comes from knowing that God is with us, and that He is in control; it comes with knowing that God celebrates the happy with us, and that He understands our pain as well. Joy comes in knowing that God wants all His best for us, all the time. Joy is found in the presence of God, and He doesn’t ever change. Choose JOY always and enjoy the HAPPY when it comes your way.

Psalm 16:11, You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Wonderful

Here’s an oldie (a real oldie), but a goodie for you- “Oh what a beautiful morning,

Oh what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, Everything's going my way.”

Even if it feels like not everything, or even nothing is going your way it’s still possible to have a bit of that wonderful feeling. Take a break from the mundane and the overwhelming and step outside with God today; even if it’s only for a moment. Take in the fresh air and gain a refreshed perspective, and grab some of that wonderful feeling for yourself.

Psalm 145:5, They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works

Like the Birds

As I sit outside on the back patio this morning enjoying my hot cup of hazelnut coffee I notice a wide variety of cheery birds flitting around. They fly and hop from tree to tree, and bush to bush; they skitter around in the dirt, nibbling on the bits of seed they find. They sing and chirp with delight as they let the golden sunshine warm their feathery little bodies. As I observe their morning activity a curious thought comes to mind… They have not a care in the world (except maybe a rouge cat or hawk to be guard against). Their needs are provided for each and every morning. I seriously doubt that they lay in their nests at night, kept awake with stress and worry the way we humans do. Can you imagine the mamma bird making lists in her mind of all the things she will need to accomplish the following day? Can you imagine her saying to herself, “Let’s see, I have to get up early, gather more twigs to freshen the nest, go find worms and get back to the nest before the children awake, make sure I chew the worms well before feeding my babies…” Can you imagine her letting worry about the future overwhelm her as she tries to settle into that elusive sleep and rest. Can you imagine her letting worrisome thoughts run rampant in her mind, thinking something like this, “What if I oversleep? What if I can’t find any twigs or worms? What if one of the kids gets sick? What if they don’t catch onto this whole flying thing? What will I do when they grow up and leave the nest? What will I do if they never grow up and leave the nest?” Yes, I seriously doubt they have any of these thoughts overwhelming them at night. It’s time to take a lesson from the birds and get a good night’s rest. Worry about tomorrow only steals precious time from today. As our head hits the pillow each night it’s a very good idea to remind ourselves of and thank God for all of His care and provision of that day. We would also be wise to find comfort and peace in handing over all the cares and concerns for the day to come; handing them over to our heavenly Father who never sleeps and always keeps watch over us.

Psalm 4:8, I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone Oh, LORD, make we dwell in safety.

Matthew 6:25- ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Both Feet

Each and every day we are faced with decisions and opportunities; some big, some small. Nevertheless, there is a choice to be made in one way or another. It is always best to assess, process and consider a matter before making a choice. As I am faced with any decision I pray that the LORD would give me insight to what is best; that He would share His knowledge and wisdom with me. The best place to find wisdom is in pausing before His glorious throne for guidance and direction before venturing onward. As the LORD does reveal His wisdom to me and points me in the right direction I then pray for the faith to act upon it; faith like that of a little child. A Faith that grabs hold of Jesus’ hand, runs to the water’s edge, and jumps in whole-heartedly with both feet and without fear.

Luke 18:16-17, ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

My Own Tiny Pop

Yay!!! As I walked up my front path this morning I looked down and noticed a Tiny Pop right in my own yard!! A symbol of the beautiful possibilities we have as we leave room for God in our lives.

If you don't know what I'm referencing have a look at my previous post called Tiny Pops. :)

Outward

As I watched the online streaming of the funeral of a prominent man in history I was touched by the stories of how many lives he had impacted for good. He was the President of my son’s University for decades. He had been an integral part of the Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He had helped get food and supplies to war torn countries. He had advised United States Presidents, met with Popes and led a University with the standards of God. Throughout his funeral many people spoke of how his kindness, grace and action had impacted their personal lives.

At the end of each day I’d like to be able to crawl into bed with the peaceful knowledge that in some small way I made the world a better place for someone. I want to know that I have made a difference somehow. Having a positive impact doesn’t have to be some grand gesture. I may not be able to travel around the world and stamp out all hunger and poverty and violence, but that doesn’t mean I am powerless to make a difference in the lives of others. I can begin with something as simple as a smile to brighten someone’s day. I can say an acknowledgement of “hello” to let someone know that matter enough to be noticed. I can offer a helping hand to someone in need of assistance. I can listen with a sympathetic ear or speak a reassuring word of wisdom and comfort. There are heavy hearts all around us in our everyday sphere of interaction just waiting for someone to care and reach out. God help me not to be so inwardly focused that I am no outwardly good to the world around me.  There is joy in living outwardly.

Philippians 2:4,  ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.