Happy

James 5:13b

Is anyone happy?  Let him sings songs of praise.

Proverbs 15:13

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Matthew 10:14b & 15

He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Children seem to just be naturally happy.  Tonight I had several examples of that fact given to me by my grandchildren.  I went on a walk with both daughters and grand-daughters Eve (17 months) and Galilee (3 months).  On the walk, for no particular reason Eve started singing “This Little Light of Mine”.  Although we couldn’t really understand the words, it was obvious that is what she was singing by her hand movements.    She was definitely “happy”.  And for no particular reason.  During the walk my son-in-law met us with my grandsons, Ethan and Elijah.  As soon as Elijah saw us, he started running toward us with a huge smile, yelling hi to us and very obviously “happy”.   Later in the evening I visited with Galilee for a few minutes and while playing with her, got to witness her laugh out loud at her Nonna for the first time.  She was very obviously “happy”.

God gives us so much.  Every single day that we draw a breath there will be something that can bring us happiness.  Something that can make us sing, smile and raise our hands in praise to the Author of our joy.  But, will we?  Children know the secret…the secret of expressing their happiness.  Children willingly express happiness simply because they are happy!   They are not afraid of who is watching, what they will think or how they will look.  The happiness in their heart spills out of their mouths and body language.  I love being around kids when they are happy.  (not so much when they’re not happy…smile)  Their happiness is contagious and almost always brings smiles to those that are around them.  Maybe that is one reason Jesus says to let the children come to Him…they come happily, willingly and with a song in their heart.  The Kingdom of God is this He says…like little children.  Smiling, happy, loving, singing, expressive little children.

These days I am experiencing heartache.   And it does, at times, seem to want to crush my spirit.  I hate that feeling.  I know that is not what the Lord wants for me, or for anyone of us who know Him and call Him LORD.  He would much rather us be singing songs of praise, smiling and experiencing  joy in our hearts.  Rick was soooo good at that!  I use to tease him that he was just a big kid.  He was happy and wore that happiness on his face most of the time.  I can still see him on a Sunday morning before church, while the praise band was practicing.  Dancing down the aisle with arms raised…totally uninhibited… singing and smiling from deep inside his heart.

I want to be like a child…His child.  I want to be able…when a moment of happiness comes…to sing a song…laugh out loud…be silly and do childlike things.  He has given us the ability to do all these things.  But, will we?  It’s up to us to choose whether we will come…as His child…in His Kingdom…with a song and a smile.  A sad world is watching…for true happiness…from us, the children of God.

Sending love from a happy heart,

Debbie

This entry was written on April 22, 2010 at 12:41 am