HAPPINESS

What is happiness exactly? Is it something as complex as electrical impulses from the brain or chemical reactions in the body telling you to feel good? Or is there a deeper sense of happiness? Bar none, today was a happy day for me. Well, at least compared to the way the past few weeks have been. This day was filled with small things that made me feel genuinely happy. I talked to and spent time with someone really special who made me understand why things are the way they are, I took one gigantic step forward in my new career path, I saw old friends, made new ones. All in one day. And for the first time in weeks, my heart was the one smiling. I guess that's what happiness is. Small things that touch you in a very profound manner when you least expect it. Maybe, God uses these small trinkets of joy to remind you that even when you think that layer of sadness is impenetrable, there are other things and people out there who can still break right through it. So I guess what we should remember is, anyone can be happy. He just has to allow it to happen and let God do the rest. Here's what my friend sent me a while ago which I think perfectly explains it. "Yes indeed, it won't be long now. God's decree - things are going to happen so fast, your head will swim. One thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once, and everywhere you look, blessings!! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills." - Amos 9:13 Time for me to start looking around. Loving unconditionally goes against many of the social standards that we place a premium on. It is also very difficult to do because in loving unconditionally, we do not give our love in trickles, we give ALL of it, all of ourselves. Nowadays, people tend to measure the amount of love they give out and more often than not, the more they give, the more they expect in return. So how do children do it? How do they surrender their whole heart to love and easily give it back? Maybe the key is selflessness. Loving and caring for others before yourself. I know, that's hard to do because looking after your own interest becomes second nature to us in this dog eat dog society. But remember, when we fall deeply in love, and we think deep inside that the person deserves all our love, don't we effortlessly give it regardless of the repercussions? Don't we just go all the way for that person even though some people say we shouldn't because of love? That means we CAN love unconditionally. I believe that when Jesus died on the cross for us, he gave us that gift. The ability to love unconditionally. I remember asking a loved one before why she does all these things for me and she said, "Because my happiness comes from seeing you smile, hearing you laugh, and feeling your happiness." The feeling I got from hearing that is how good it is to be on the receiving end of unconditional love. A love that only the child in us can give. Let's all dig through the mess inside and find that child in us, with His help. I THINK THIS IS THE REAL HAPPINESS...SERVING GOD AND LOVING HIM FAITHFULLY. My happiness is when I dig down deep in God's word and worship Him. How about yours?