It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. - Charles Spurgeon
Isn’t that the truth?
Some people would argue that starving people in deprived countries need STUFF. What I argue is that they need HOPE... and yes, clothes, clean water, access to healthcare and education, freedom, Jesus... My heart aches for the broken hearted and crushed in spirit... everywhere...and for some people in the world, hope is borne in a vaccination, a sewing machine, a well dug in their community.
Community.
Many of the studies that have been done on life satisfaction around the globe clearly indicate that PEOPLE connected to PEOPLE creates the conditions most necessary for happiness. Gretchen Rubin makes mention of this somewhere in the first six chapters of her book. The studies consistently show that what ya GOT, physically speaking doesn’t compare with WHO ya got. Good people make a rich life indeed. Exhibit A: the United States, one of the richest countries on the planet, is not the happiest.
But getting back to my point - Good people spur you on to love and good deeds and shall I say it? ... Yes, bring Joy.
Christmas Season is about JOY to the world, right?
JOY to the world. What? JOY.
JOY to the world. To WHO? The world!
JOY to the world, WHY? The Lord has come!... as a... PERSON! A human being. Living. Breathing. He came.
He ate. He drank. He laughed. He touched. He wept. He cooked. He sang. He listened. He spoke.
Do you hear the bells ringing it? The songs being song? Are they resounding in your heart and your home? Are you sharing that music with people? Are you donating to charity or buying someone in Chile a cow? If so, are you enJOYing it?
It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
So whether you are ready up to your eyeballs in Christmas boxes stuffed with stuff from too many years of tchachke collecting, or whether you are up to your eyeballs in bills and burdens, enJOY your holiday season... with PEOPLE..... and your God.
I wish you JOY! To who? To YOU!
Here is my little drummer boy. We Got The Beat day is his favorite day of the week. Why? Because in addition to drumming, he loves “peopling”. He made that word up. He said one day after I asked the “How was your day, dear?” question that he had a great “peopling” day.
I said, “What do you mean, ‘peopling’ honey?”
He replied, “I just love people.”
I think Jesus did, too.
2 comments:
Right on, Drummer Boy! I totally agree about needing people. I also do know that some people need stuff first....I think that is why Jesus always met the REAL physical needs of people before teaching them. Unfortunately, here in the US, we seem to think our physical needs are great, and that often times they are only satisfied with things (and I don't mean vaccinations and food!).
I love the addage, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Thank you, Jesus, for coming and showing how much you care!!!!
"peopling" I love that!
The We Got the Beat was awesome. I smiled the whole time. :)
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