Being Happy, Part 2

I’ve heard it said, “It’s not what happens to you in life that matters, it’s what happens in you. Because if what happens in you is right, what happens to you doesn’t matter.”

This can be so hard sometimes! If we expect our spouse, our kids, our material possessions, our achievements or experiences to make us happy we will only be disappointed. Things happen. We have control over very little in this life. However, we do have control over ourselves.....

“One ship goes east, another goes west, by the self-same winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sail and not the gale, that determines the way they go.
Like the waves of the sea or the winds of fate, as we voyage along through life,
Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal, and not the calm or the strife.”

A young boy was asked if he was happy. He said, “No, I won’t be happy until I’ve graduated from high school and gone to college.” He was then asked in college if he was happy and he said, “No, I won’t be happy until I’ve graduated from college and secured a good job.” After he had secured a good job he was asked again if he was happy. He said, “No, I won’t be happy until I get married and have a family.” After he had a family he was asked again if he was happy. He said, “No, I won’t be happy until I’m retired.” You see, he was never going to be happy. I really believe happiness is a choice.

So, How can we be happy?

We need to have the gratitude attitude!

Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

Never allow what you don’t have, keep you from being thankful for what you do have.

Complaining just dampens spirits; people full of gloom and despair are not very fun to be around.

Are you a pessimist? It’s probably because you don’t count your blessings.

A great preacher by the name of Willard Tate once spoke of a College class he taught early in the morning. The students came in, and the first thing he told them to do was to take out a piece of paper and write down ten good things that had happened to them that day. They started to complain, “What do you mean? I’ve only been awake for 30 minutes.” He said, “OK, you got up this morning and you were alive. Is that a good thing? Write that down. You opened your eyes and you could see. Is that a good thing? You got out of bed and you could walk. You didn’t have to go down to the river; you turned the tap and you had instant hot water.” You see, it’s not that hard to find ten good things.

You want to be happy? You need to get the gratitude attitude.

I know that many people have experienced much sorrow and heartache in this life. Some seem to have more than their share. There have been times when I have found it hard to find anything to be happy about. But, if you really put your mind to it you will find much to be thankful for. God is good.

More to come....