Happiness

Prior to my new nature being dumped on me, I can not say I was ever happy.  Oh, I knew contentment as a component of happiness and so that became happiness for me.  If I was "happy" that meant I was satisfied with life.  But, no, it really was not happiness.

After the huge change hit my life, in 2013, I did know times of happiness but it was equally balanced with pain.  Be happy, get slapped down by life to face reality.  Sigh.

Then there was my cryptic Saturday post that I knew happiness was coming, I just had no clue what it meant.  I had some guesses, which were rather quickly killed.  So, I was perplexed and almost a month passed.  Theb God reminded me again that I was to know happiness.  Another week passed.  I had no clue where or what this happiness was or could possibly be.

And then it was birthed within me, I suddenly discovered happiness.

But it was a happiness not based upon others or what they could do for me.  There was nothing I did to cause it to happen - it simply was there.  It was not a matter of my old understanding of contentment.  Happiness was in there, I was/am joyous and remain so. 

And today as I thought on this, I realized that happiness is not the result of an external influence, it is the result of what is in you.  I have been given true happiness.  A blessing for sure.  A gift I can share with those whom cross my path everyday.  From random man in parking lot to bouncer watching the door at the concert my youngest daughter went to last night.  From the tired worker behind a candy counter to the poor cashier trying to get done as the store closed and slow shoppers like me complicate things!  I was able to leave smiles on each of their faces.

I am not sure I have ever done anything to deserve happiness to be discovered inside of me so late in life.  But, I thank God for it.  It surely is a most unexpected miracle  ...