I hope what I’m about to say makes sense.

There is no happiness that this world holds for me.

There is only one joy, one place of peace and that starts inward.

I do pursue the abundant life God wants to give us here on earth so we can further his kingdom.  It’s not a belief that most churches hold, that I’m aware of, so I can see why some might mistake my pursuit of abundance as looking for happiness.   Happiness is a part of that abundance being received, but challenges will also arise.  You can count on it.

If you look at Mother Theresa for instance, she was one of the richest people on earth.  If she ever needed anything, all she had to do was ask for it.  That’s what I pursue.  The ability and readiness to receive so that when I ask, I am ready for it.

If we receive prematurely, then it quickly disappears or we mess it up because we aren’t responsible enough to hang on to it.  Money, kids, spouses, toys, etc. Think about it.

It took the children of Israel 40 years to find something that was only 2 days journey away!

BE READY TO RECEIVE.

Happiness is not something I pursue.  I have found it… in between the sorrows and trials, for which I am  so grateful for because without them I wouldn’t know how to rejoice when I do experience the joys.

I hope that makes sense to you and if not, I’m okay with that.  We’re all different, and we all have different belief systems we can choose from.  I’m willing to hear what yours might be if you’re willing to share them.

Below is a poem a very dear friend sent me and I want to share it with you.

It’s called ‘IF’
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

~Kipling