My summer was arduous, traveling back and forth between Orlando and Jacksonville to fulfill my duties as a member of a civic leadership organization. On the road as early as 4 or 5am. Now I had somehow found myself on medication once again because of a "flare up" with my chronic kidney disease. Not to mention my aunt who I saw over the summer, had "given it a rest" in her battle with cancer.
I struggled to push forward and stay true to my faith, noting/declaring that this would be the last time I would be on this medication. After this go around I'd be healed (for good). Then my grandfather got sick. It was his heart (again), and the Lord told me that his time was coming to an end.
What I'd do?
I prepared by continuing to stay faithful and delve into God's Word.
There was so much going on with school, being enrolled full-time and I was working two part-time jobs. A lot of stress, and now the patriarch of my family is about to transition to the other side. Could this have happened at a worse time (i.e. Prior to graduation)? I wasn't mad, upset, angry, or disappointed; however, I doubt "happy" is a phrase that I could use. Yet, somewhere there was "joy down in my heart".
 |
| I asked for Jesus to bring the rain... he did just that |
3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Amen.
Not sure how much of a blessed childhood you had, or what your experience was growing up. But for me there was a large purple dinosaur all in, around, and through my growing up as a youngin'. There's the nursery rhymes, learning to play well with others, and discovering new things about yourself. One thing I could always go for was a sing-along.
SN: Remember watching the songs on television with the bouncing ball?!
And if you were an overachiever....
Back to the story...so sing-a-longs. There was one song in particular that would always cheer everyone up; If You're Happy & You Know It...
Ah, yes. I remember the days of tucked in shirts, and neatness all around...so, where were we...oh, right!
Being happy is something that many people strive for these days. They look to just about anything, everything, and everyone to make themselves happy. Whether it be some new diet fad, hanging with the "in" crowd, or trying to keep up with the latest form of technologies that seem to increase self-esteem (e.g. Instagram, Social Networking, and the like). I'd like to suggest that being happy is a state of mind, which is primarily based off of how you feel, usually determined by what's going on around you. In many cases what goes on around you is completely beyond your control.
So why talk about being happy? Well, last time I wrote to you, I mentioned my struggles in meeting the graduation requirements for my degree program. Where does the H.A.P.P.Y. come in at? To put it plainly, it was a very emotional time as there was more than enough stuff going on in my life, some of which I detailed in my quick talk on stress. Perhaps more importantly, I was constantly being asked if I was okay, if I'd be alright, if I was "happy". Here's a few thoughts I wrote down as part of a journal entry...
[Excerpt from May 24, 2012]
As I think back on that time in my life; was I happy? Heck no! Yet, at the same time I was because the Holy Spirit helped me to discern a different type of happiness, which started with me rethinking what it means to be happy. I turned happy from being something that I feel, into something that I do. So when they'd ask me, "Are you happy?" I'd say, yes...
I am...
Humbly
And
Patiently
Pursuing
Yahweh
All I could do during that time, much like before my grandfather passed was stay in Scripture, continue to pray, and talk to those in the community with me. These people included everyone I knew. There were my friends in the campus ministry, my campus minister, the director of my graduate program, my Pastor. Let's see...telling my parents I hadn't graduated after they came to visit for graduation was interesting. Oh yeah, I still went to graduation and everyone wondered, "Why aren't you dressed?!" Some even motioned for me to, "Go get dressed!"
Before I go further, I should explain who Yahweh is. Firstly, it's the "sacred" name of God. In some circles it is thought that it shouldn't be pronounced. I personally don't use it in "public" as some people might not know who I'm talking about; however, this blog is about Truth, therefore I will give you some background information (without getting deep into technicalities/details).
13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.
This is my eternal name,
my name to remember for all generations."
Now you may or may not know that the book called Exodus, is about the Israelites' exodus or "movement" out of Egypt after they were enslaved by Pharaoh. The key here is that Moses (the "Prince of Egypt") needed to have some type of assurance that the people who he was leading could trust that he had been sent by God. Yahweh, can be "translated" as "The LORD, I AM".
In closing, I want you to notice that "I am H.A.P.P.Y." begins and ends with "I am", although they are two different types. The first being me as a human being (as we all are), and the second being the one who we (I) strive to be like.
Why?
The quick skinny:
- Sometimes "being happy and knowing it" isn't all it's cracked up to be.
- Thought I'd share another variant of how to be happy
What does this mean for me? #theReader
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands. If you're not happy and you know it...find some joy!
For further insight: Read- Names of God, One Year Alone
For further insight: Read- Names of God, One Year Alone
This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs) Use your KEYS
- Know that happiness is determined by your environment
- Expect to be removed from your "happy place" every once in a while
- Your determination to push through may bring you to a happier state
- Stay committed even when you're not happy, or feeling it #justDoItAnyways
Challenge
- Learn where your joy comes from (what makes you joyful). Happiness is temporary.
- In "a tough situation"? Trust God, he'll bring you through. Saint or sinner #HeLuvsU
