I heard a message today from Joel Olsteen which really resonated.  Mr. Olsteen was giving a sermon on choosing to be happy.  He gave an example that went kind of like this, “Suppose you have a job you can’t stand, and you want something better, something different, something more fulfilling. I bet if you lost that job, went months and months without finding another job, had difficulty paying your bills, and then were offered your old job back, you would probably be happy to take it!”  Same job, but a different attitude.  His point was, most of us already have everything thing we need to be happy but often, our attitude keeps us unhappy.  This blog isn’t about Joel; it is about choosing to be happy with your circumstances.

When Joe was alive, I had all I needed, and more, to be happy.  I had a house (with working air conditioning…a VERY important happiness maker), a husband who loved me and our children, and who put himself last, two healthy children, a number of pets, three crazy fun sisters, both mine and Joe’s parents, the ability to be able to stay home, and food to eat.  I had so much more, but for illustrative purposes, these should suffice.  I was abundantly blessed.  And yet, on far more occasions than I am comfortable admitting, I grumbled, I moaned, I complained.  “Joe, I need more help with the kids!” was a frequent refrain.  Plenty of times I would yell at Laurel “How many times do I have to tell you to clean this pigsty?”  Jackson was not immune; I would get on him too.  Instead of choosing to be happy, I chose criticizing and grousing.  I focused more on the negatives, and not nearly enough on the positives.  I could have given thanks for a spouse who worked so hard, for children that were healthy and relatively happy.  I should have been thrilled I was a parent, when so many people are unable to conceive.

Please don’t think I am championing some unobtainable, utopian pipe dream where all is peace, love, and harmony.  We are all going to lose our temper, get frustrated over the dog poop on the floor that no one but you seems to notice, and maybe we just feel argumentative sometimes.  I get it!  I still have days where nothing seems to go right and I want to yell, or punch something (and a pillow just will not work!).  But, more often than not, I am learning to choose happiness.

I have mentioned in previous blogs my unwavering belief that God produces good from bad.   He will always triumph over darkness.  I do not believe God punishes us or gets our attention by making us sick, killing our loved ones, or any other catastrophic method in order to accomplish His means.  Honestly, if you are a parent, or if you know a toddler, would you place their little hand on a hot stove to illustrate not to touch the glowing burner?  Obviously not; it is obscene.  Given the unending and magnificent love God as parent has for us, do you really think He would cause us pain on the magnitude of death or sickness in order to teach us to appreciate what we have?  Absurd!

Could God have healed Joe, or stopped the heart attack before it ever began?  Clearly.  But He did not, and I will probably never understand the why nots of that while I live here on earth, nor is that relevant for me.  God has created positives by encouraging me to seek happiness over discontentedness.  He sends reminders in the form of radio broadcasts, illustrating that attitude is most often the key factor in choosing to celebrate amongst the midst of the chaotic, churning free fall called life.

Losing Joe continues to remind me life with loved ones is never long enough and I want to treasure my time with them rather than focus on perceived shortcomings.  I want to be happy I have a dog, rather than be irritated I am the one who sees (and scoops) the poop.  I want to celebrate my fortune I can stay home and drive Jackson to school rather than whine because he doesn’t yet have his license.  I especially want to be happy I have two children who I love, rather than berate the testosterone fueled manboy (thanks Laura for the word) because he thinks of hundreds (or so it seems) of ways to “jokingly” call me stupid each and every day!  My prayer for you is if you are not already living each day choosing contentment,  you can learn, before a loved one dies, to be happy with the blessings life bestows.

(It IS possible to be happy while picking up poop, but it does help if you carry a bag!)