Faithful Friday - "Happiness is a Choice"

It's time for Faithful Friday again. Everyday is a day to share God's love and what He's done for us, but Friday is a day we've set aside to especially make a point to do so to encourage and lift up one another. If you would like to participate, grab the button below, click over to Joy's blog and leave her a comment letting her know you're participating, and we'll come visit! :)

I really believe that happiness is a choice. But let me be quick to tell you that I have most definitely not mastered this, so I’m really pointing a finger back at me as I write this. However, I am really trying.

I do know that the people that I really enjoy being around or those that make me feel inspired or refreshed after having been in their presence seem to be those that choose to be happy.

The Bible really has several things to say about this:

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24


But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3


A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13


A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22


Wow. I especially love that last one. It’s true! Laughter, or a joyful heart is actually good for your health!

I’m amazed when we visit the Nursing Home at the folks that end up lifting me up by their happy attitude. I was talking to one particular lady there, Ms. Viola, recently. I told her how I thought it was really admirable the way she gets up every day, makes her bed herself, cleans her bathroom, helps others around her, and is just a lovely person to be around and that I always felt encouraged after having visited her. I went on to say that I thought every person needs something to look forward to everyday, whether that thing is something small (as in playing bingo for the nursing home residents or taking care of the flowers in the garden in Ms. Viola’s case), or bigger things.

I believe that to be true. Find something in every day to look forward to. For me, sometimes that thing is making a blog post. Sometimes it is to continue the read-aloud that Joy and I are engrossed in, sitting down to enjoy my Country Sampler magazine, or other times it may be going to a particular place, or even decorating. But I always try to find one thing to look forward to everyday and I’ve encouraged Joy to do the same. I think this helps in making the choice of happiness.

I know there are situations in which it is very hard to choose to be happy because all feels hopeless. Sometimes in that position, happiness can be found in helping others. Actually God can give us that kind of happiness, but we still have to choose to embrace it.

I guess I just wanted this post to encourage others to stop and think about what it is you have to be thankful about, to wake up and purposefully have the thought that God made this day and to make the choice to be happy in it. Try to look forward to something (at least one thing) in your day. Set out to find some way to help someone else that day or put a smile on someone’s face.

Happiness is a choice and smiles are contagious. That’s one thing that’s nice to spread around.