Stop for just a few minutes and
think hard. What makes you happy? The answer to that question is going to be as
varied as the number of people you ask.
For many people what makes them happy is family. As parents who have children a lot of joy can
be experienced by their “first” accomplishments. Consider from the very beginning when your
child is born. Are you not overwhelmed
with unbelievable happiness? Of course,
you do the first “parent thing.” You
count the toes and fingers and when you see they’re all there and you look into
that new little face, it’s hard to imagine you’ve waited all those months for
this “little bundle of joy!”
You can hardly wait for all the
other “firsts” that are going to be happening.
In a short period of time this child starts to crawl, then to stand on
their own, and eventually walking and running.
It will become increasingly difficult for you to keep up with them. However, there will continue to be many “firsts”
that you will look forward to as they advance and grow to maturity.
Think of the anxiety you will feel
as this child prepares for their educational process and reaches that first day
of school. You will gain unbelievable
joy with every advancement and accomplishment that is being made. All things will continue with first friend,
then dating, prom, and finally graduation.
Of course, there will be many other situations that develop between
these major mile-stones and you will gain a great measure of joy as they reach
these points and many others.
It’s also understandable that along
with all these joyful moments there will come times of hurt, disappointment,
and failure. But you, and your child,
can gain joy as you work together to overcome these more difficult times.
For other people their joy may have
come from the accomplishments they achieved in their lives. These could be from financial achievements to
perhaps projects they are involved and being able to “make a name” for themselves. Some people “pour” themselves into their work
and practically sacrifice ALL
other things so they are able to concentrate every effort into the work that
they feel is going to bring the greatest joy into their lives. Consider what some have done in this arena.
There are individuals who have
produced great fortunes during their life time.
From a financial stand point there is nothing that they couldn’t afford
to obtain. I’m referring to those with “REAL” wealth! The type of individual who could request
something to get done and say “money is NO
object!” and actually mean it!
Others may use their wealth to purchase “things.” They feel that by the mere possession of
things they will have real joy in their lives.
Others have thought that these “joys” can be give to their families by “showering”
them with material things or by making “opportunities” open up for them from
the contacts they have made in their business dealings.
Many times people will do
unbelievable things to try and have joy or happiness in their lives. They want the “big” house, the fancy car, the
large paycheck or maybe the impressive title.”
I recall going through a period of time when almost any occupation was
trying to come up with lofty sounding titles for the positions they had. The “dog catcher” became the “animal control
officer” and the “trash collector” became a “sanitation engineer.” And yet with these “title” changes, and with
others, there was NO change
in their duty assignments or pay!
We could probably spend many more
words on the examples of HOW people have tried to find joy or happiness
within their lives. Throughout history
people, of all walks of life, from various financial backgrounds, ethnic, or
national up bringings, have sought “outside” influences to bring joy into their
life, along with structural meaning. All
these people have failed to recognize a basic truth within their searching. Joy DOES
NOT come from any external stimulus, neither from things we have or
from things we accomplish, at least, not REAL
joy! If we look into the bible at
Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22 and 23, we will see that “joy” is a fruitage of
God’s spirit.
So, by applying ourselves in an obedient
life to God’s requirements and by praying for God’s spirit to affect our life,
we WILL have TRUE joy! Regardless of what is going on around us,
although not totally unaffected by difficult circumstances, we can have peace
in our lives and real joy. And this can
be a joy that cannot only last us for a few years, but can be something we can
enjoy for all eternity!
THOUGHTFUL GEM
"Give someone a smile today. It doesn't cost you anything."
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