A catholic teenage boy that I know from the bookstore, commented on this picture of me with this statement: "You are always in such a good mood! I wish I could be happier more often." I was totally caught off guard by that remark (after all, doesn't everyone smile in pictures?) and it started me thinking about being in a "good mood".I realized I am, quite often, happy! I prayed and asked the Lord for a way to reply to this kid, and how my deep joy and it's outflowing of happiness might be a way I could minister to him.
The Lord, being so wonderful, gave me an answer. Not with my words, but with His:
In Psalm 21, David says "for You have made the King most blessed forever (or a source of blessing forever), You make him glad with the joy of Your Presence." Blessed is another word for "happy". So when we say the Lord is blessed, we mean He is happy! I personalized this verse for myself: You have made me most happy, and a source of happiness forever; You make me glad with the joy of Your Presence.
Oh, that I might be a source of happiness -- not trite, glib, shallow thoughts, but deeply wrought joy -- to everyone around me! And that my delight might point all who are affected by it to the Happiest of Beings!
Matthew 5:16
ReplyDelete"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Psalm 37:4
ReplyDelete"DELIGHT YOURSELF in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."
On an unrelated note... (this upcoming particular comment is belated, but please do not let it subtract from its sincerity) Gretchen, It was nice to meet you when you came to visit Gknee. I hope you guys had a good time catching up. Please come back soon and bring the rest of your family...we'll hang out!
ReplyDeleteThank you, John, for your comment. I don't think I was suggesting that my friend was not happy because he was catholic. He is a wonderful kid, very talented and smart, very sincerily seeking after God. I was merely sharing the REASON I am happy.
ReplyDeleteI hope to be a source of happiness to all my friends, despite their religious background.
Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding Gretchen. The reason I said anything was that I didn't understand how your referring to his being Catholic had anything to do with the rest of what you said, unless it had some relevance to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing up the misunderstanding Gretchen. The reason I said anything was that I didn't understand how your referring to his being Catholic had anything to do with the rest of what you said, unless it had some relevance to you.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the double
ReplyDelete