Sunday Meditation: I Choose Happiness and Gratitude!

If you're a regular reader, you know how much I like The Epoch Times. I think it's the best and most reliable newspaper on the market. I particularly like the Life and Tradition section. Two articles from the Jan 29-Feb 4th issue were not only worth reading, but worth passing on.

The first was "The Key to a Happy Life: Gratitude very quickly leads to joy." It began with the story of man with a medical condition that required a long stay in a nursing facility. When he was shown to his tiny, rather drab and cheerless room, very like a monk's cell, he didn't succumb to gloom but turned to the nurse and said, "I love it!" He chose happiness.

 The other article was Why We Still Need Mister Rogers. I think Fred Rogers was one of the happiest men to ever live. I have his quote about kindness (above) hanging in our family room, a gift from one of our children. Change the word "success" to "happiness" and you have an important part of the equation: gratitude + kindness = happiness!

Fr. John Powell wrote a book I read years ago called Happiness is an Inside Job. That's an important and foundational statement. The "pursuit of happiness" should take us on a journey of self examination. The things around us can spark joy: the glitter of snow in sunlight,  a gaggle of geese flying in V-formation across the sky, a perfect rose given to us by a loved one, an injustice corrected or a truth vindicated. But all those things are simply manifestations inviting us to internal gratitude and appreciation for what those things and events represent.

I recently realized that a situation bringing me tremendous grief over the past few years has become the breeding ground of great happiness. It brought my husband and me closer together than we've been in years. In fact, the new wine of fresh love served at the wedding feast of Cana has been replaced by the choice wine miraculously made later in the celebration. God took plain water, perhaps it was even bitter water, and turned it into the best wine. He kept that choice wine for me and Larry until now to comfort our golden years. We have never been more of one mind or closer or more appreciative of one another and our marriage than we are now. And what a gift the other day when my husband came, took me by the hand, led me into the family room, turned on Moon River, the song we danced to at our wedding, and danced with me around the room. I laughed and rejoiced in being loved and cherished. And I thanked God for such a kind, considerate, and loving husband. 

The Wedding Feast at Cana by Esteban Murillo

What Satan meant for evil, our shared sorrow, God used for great good. And in that happiness is the recognition that everything, both good and evil, that happens to us should call forth gratitude and never destroy our happiness. If we are striving to do God's will, everything can be a source of joy, EVERYTHING, including the sorrows and sufferings of life. St. Paul reminds us to "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) Remember the saints who went to their gruesome deaths singing and praying!

Larry and I have had plenty of challenges and sorrows in our 55 years of marriage; all of us do. We often don't see what God is doing through them at the time, but one day we will. God is painting the landscape of our lives and we will see the entire picture on Judgment Day. Perhaps the sufferings will shine with particular beauty because they united us so closely to the cross of Christ. 

I sometimes tell the priest in Confession that I don't want to become a bitter, angry old woman. In response, I'm told to unite my sufferings to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He understands suffering. He was abandoned by His apostles some of whom were family members. He suffered in the Garden while His three closest apostles slept. Peter cursed and denied Him. How can we ever think we suffer alone?

Happiness and gratitude are choices. I want to choose happiness and thank God for every single event in my life: the joys, the sorrows, the pain and suffering, the ridicule, the abandonment. Nothing is outside God's grace. With Job I want to say, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord." There is nothing we can suffer that Jesus and Our Blessed Mother didn't suffer before us. 

I choose happiness and gratitude united to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. I'm asking my guardian angel to remind me when I'm tempted to forget!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Dear Guardian Angels, pray for us.