The Greatest Kind of Happpiness

Everyone seeks happiness. Through some means, everyone wants to become, be and continue to be happy. Some seek fame and fortune, some faith or family and some incredibly selfish, sometimes horrific, attempts. Where does that desire come from? What makes us want to be happy? This may seem like an absurd question. After all the pursuit of happiness seems to be at the root of all our desires, it is as common to us as breathing. But why do we want it? What drives us to pursue happiness?

I think what we really want is peace. Peace with ourselves, peace with others and, though some would not admit it, peace with God. That is what we mean by happiness. We want a calm assurance that things are good, more than good, that things are great. So, where do we go for that calm assurance. Again, some will seek selfish means, some ideals and some will try to reach outside themselves.

I have come to know this happiness through my relationship with the Lord. Through a continual strive for obedience to Him and always finding Him faithful. This doesn't mean life has always been easy or full of events that lack all discouragement or hurt. This means that through it all, through everything life has, my God is in control and His love, His strength assure me.

More than that I have learned to find joy in seeing the Lord love on others around me. This week, Heather's friend had her first child. Heather got to be there. She got to help out and serve the ones she loves. And she got to meet this new life, this little girl that God created and purposed in this world. She got to see a dear friend become a mother. This is the greatest kind of happiness - to see someone you love enjoying the blessings of the Father, to see them happy and to be happy for them. My heart is full of thankfulness and happiness for Heather.

~"A happiness that is sought for ourselves alone can never be found: for a happiness that is diminished by being shared is not big enough to make us happy. There is a false and momentary happiness in self-satisfaction, but it always leads to sorrow because it narrows and deadens our spirit. True happiness is found in unselfish love, a love which increases in proportion as it is shared." - Thomas Merton~