Happiness Is...

Happiness is…whatever it is. There are songs about it, lots of stories, fairy tales and the like. It could be Phil Robertson going around saying, “Happy, happy, happy”. It is a thousand clichés and sayings, plaques hung on walls and bumper stickers and vanity license plates. It is all of these and none. Happiness is something deep inside you that comes bubbling up seemingly out of nowhere and changes the whole of your being in an instant. It is what makes you happy that is important, and whatever that is may not have any effect on someone else, or even just the opposite.

Many people think they have to have something or do something to be happy. They believe they need to be with a particular person or have their care and attention to be happy. When they don’t, they get a case of the glums. Just think how often you have heard someone say, “You make me so happy!” Maybe that person created the situation or environment, but you are the one who reacted in that way, you are the one who is happy.

Happiness is a wonderful gift of life. It can brighten the gloomiest day, or change a negative situation into a positive one. Happiness has its birth deep down inside us, it can overcome the darkest hour or the worst situation. If you are a dog person, like I am, and have had a really bad day, just think of how you react when you walk in the door and that four-legged best friend comes running up to you wagging her whole body. On the other hand, if you are into cats then having your furry friend circle around your legs purring is certain to bring out that joyful feeling. Whatever it is that sparks up your day, from pets to people to hobbies to your job, there is something in your life that lights you up.
What are you going to do today to make yourself happy? It is your choice. If someone else looks at your negative situation and asks you how you can be happy at a time like that, you can befuddle them by simply saying, “Because I choose to be!” The power to be happy, to turn lemons into the proverbial lemonade, is one of God’s nicest gifts. It came wrapped in the package. Just think about the big smiles you have seen on a baby’s face and all doubts of that will vanish. What makes a baby so happy? I don’t know, but maybe he or she is living in the presence of God in its simplest form and what could make us happier than that?

God gave us the happy gift and he expects us to share it. So, take it outside and share it. I will leave it up to you how best to do that, so just do it. Someone may share theirs with you.