Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

You can be happy too!

Every day is a gift wrapped in God's love. His present to us is tied securely with ribbons of joy. What we find in our gift and how we use it is up to us. The choice is ours.

We can see a beautiful sunrise and we can see beautiful sunsets. I like to see the twilight and the birds that settle down with a song. It seems God is putting nature to bed. I like to hear it all.

There are so many things to see, to say and share with others. Time fleets at night or day. Today is the time to live, love, laugh and be happy.

Everyone wants to be happy, but many look in the wrong places, places that lead to misery and suffering. Wrong choices pay severe consequences.

God's gifts are available to us and it depends on how we use them. It's not what we have or don't have. Things cannot supply lasting happiness. We make the decision. It is hard to be happy in hard times but we still have a choice. We can still find the good. A joyful spirit brings joy to others. Making the decision each day to be happy is something we can do. No one else can do that for us.

Humor in situations keeps a proper perspective. One morning I found the washer had leaked in the laundry room. It had leaked all night. It overflowed into the den and soaked the carpet. While waiting for the plumber, I decided to mow the lawn only to discover a flat tire on the riding lawn mower. I suddenly remembered I had an appointment. I grabbed my purse and ran to the car and I had locked the car keys in the car. I had to walk fast to keep the appointment.

I passed by one of my little students and he wanted to know why I was in such a hurry.

I told him quickly and kept walking fast. He told me it was Saturday, but I kept going. He yelled, "Well Teach, that' life!"

I laughed and thought "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).

The minute you open your eyes each morning make a decision to be happy.

Remember that decision at work. Be joyful throughout your day. Being happy in your day is contagious. Others can catc" it too.

I listened to a medical doctor on TV say that a right attitude and a "merry heart" does wonders for one's health. The majority of his patients were unhappy complainers about life in general.

Thirty-one years of teaching gave me a distinct blessing and advantage. Children know how to be happy, even in difficult situations. They love, laugh, forgive and have a happy attitude about life. Children exemplify "the Kingdom of Heaven" with their childlike trust. Children became my teacher because they knew how to be happy.

Now matter what has happened in the past or what happens in the future we can make up our minds to be happy.

Let's make that choice. Let's choose to be happy today, tomorrow and every day. Before you know it you will have had a lot of happy days and a lot of happy memories.

It's our decision.

I choose to be happy.

You can be happy too!

Portales resident Joan Clayton is a retired teacher and published author. Her e-mail address is: [email protected]

 
 
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