The Cracked Acorn: Art Thou Happy?

A popular magazine is once again exploring the science of HAPPINESS. I have always been interested in what makes a person happy & myself: that is: glad, joyful, delighted. Those who study this will say that everyone is yearning to be happy. And that they are seeking spirituality and maybe the love of family. The seekers may not know how to find it but will recognize it once it has arrived, like a pink elephant! It is assumed that everyone is desperately looking for the road map to happiness. Meanwhile happy people experience better health and are optimistic about the future. These individuals count their blessings, practice kindness, learn to forgive, recognize stress (and fight it!), they keep smiling and practice the art of laughter. Pets may contribute to having a happy life style. Experts warn that one should not get married with the thought in mind that together they will gain happiness. “Too many Americans have made materialism and the cycle of work and spend cycle their principle. Then they wonder why they don’t feel happy. from NEWSWEEK!

AND then there was a man who said, “I never knew what real happiness was until I got married;and then it was too late ; men may define marriage as a very expensive way to get your laundry done free.” (from THOSE WHO ARE NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK)

Christians fare much better at achieving happiness. Note these scriptures:

• Psalm 128:2 – “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”
• Psalm 144:15 – “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”
• Proverbs 14:21b – “but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”
• James 5:11-“We know how happy they are now because they stayed true to Him then, even though they suffered greatly for it.”

Job is an example of a man who continued to trust the Lord in sorrow;from his experiences we can see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for He is full of tenderness and mercy.”

HAPPINESS is: the memory of that happy time with friends; the delighted laughter that has no end; a red rose swaying in the breeze; funny jokes,mad antics,tricks and fun;an A grade for hard work well done;a holiday spent running up and down the beach;breathing in the scent of a beautiful summer’s peach;a rainbow bright across the sky;gorgeous stars twinkling in the night sky;a candle burning in the night and a crescent moon burning very bright.(anonymous)

Our Song- HAPPINESS IS TO KNOW THE SAVIOR, LIVING A LIFE WITHIN HIS FAVOR, HAVING A CHANGE IN MY BEHAVIOR – HAPPINESS IS THE LORD. HAPPINESS IS A NEW CREATION, “JESUS AND ME” IN CLOSE RELATION, HAVING A PART IN HIS SALVATION HAPPINESS IS THE LORD. HAPPINESS IS TO BE FORGIVEN,LIVING A LIFE THAT’S WORTH THE LIVIN’, TAKING A TRIP THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN – HAPPINESS IS THE LORD. REAL JOY IS MINE, NO MATTER IF TEARDROPS START; I’VE FOUND THE SECRET – IT’S JESUS IN MY HEART! HAPPINESS IS THE LORD! (Country & Western GOSPEL HYMNAL)