Happiness

Sitting here at my desk thinking about my life and the blessings I enjoy has brought me to another blog post. I have written in the past about things that bother or irritate me, so I wanted to write this month about things that make me happy. I believe that happiness is a choice, so why not write about my choices....

- My family makes me happy. I have a wife who has stuck by me for over 51 years. She needs mental help for that choice, but I am very pleased that she has thought enough of me to stay by my side and be my partner for all these years !!

- I have 2 daughters who married well and have raised 4 children successfully. They both have gone on to very successful careers with education advances in both of their lives (one with 2 Masters and 1 embarking on her first Masters). They make me proud to be their Dad!!

- I have 3 sisters (2 surviving sisters) who I am very close to even today. We text each day and we stay in each others lives and are genuinely interested in what happens with our families and us. We even talk "live" frequently... unheard of in today's world of technology.

I have a church family that makes me happy. I have church friends who I know for certain I can count on to pray for me, pray for my family, and to be there if I ever need them. They know that they can count on me as well and if that's not family, I'm not sure what is. My church family is spread around the world and all over Texas, but we're there for each other just as our Savior was there for us. I am happy to know them !!

I have a cat that makes me happy. She is a cute ball of fur with the most mischievous attitude ever, but she loves unconditionally and asks nothing in return except food and water (and some affection). She is the perfect pet (except when she wakes me up at 3:30 AM to play).

I have a job that makes me happy. I enjoy my work and I enjoy my co-workers. I work for the company with the best food in the restaurant business, so it's a joy to do what I do for them. We have a mutual assistance agreement and I am happy for that as they allow me to survive in this world and I hope I add value to them by the work I do.

I have so many blessings that God has allowed me to enjoy and they all make me happy. I choose to see them as blessings (even at 3:30 AM). But the biggest blessing that makes me happy and gives me joy is the gift of eternal life. I am happy that I made that choice to follow Jesus. I am blessed to have the opportunity to follow Jesus. I am joyful knowing that my choice has made a difference in me and maybe others. I am hopeful that I can relate that blessing and joy to others as I have been asked to do. Jesus is the right choice. Be happy. Be joyful. Be blessed. Choose Jesus.