Cookies and Candies

This morning at church, a baby was dedicated. Her parents promised to raise her within a strong and loving Christian home and the church promised to support and encouraged them as they do that. I know the parents slightly and remember them mainly because the father is one of the happiest people I've ever met. I know that sounds a bit odd, but really ... this guy is always smiling and always enjoying life. Oh, I'm sure he has his 'blue' moments, but probably not very often. He's just too busy loving life ...

I remember meeting this family once this last summer, at the grocery store. It was the middle of July, but it felt more like the middle of November. The weather was cold and gray and wet. And I was tired and right in the middle of a deep 'blue' moment. I saw the family coming from a distance, the father and mother each holding a hand of their little girl - dancing along between them - and the mother carrying their baby. The father was laughing and the mother was smiling. Their little girl was giggling. Their baby was gurgling. They were so happy ... they lit the grocery store up!

They stopped to say hello and we chatted for a few minutes. They had just stopped by to pick up cookies and candies. They were on their way to a local adventure/amusement park ... even though it was cold and gray and wet and there were sure to be a million other families at the park. And they were happy ... happy to be together, to be picking up cookies and candies, to be going to the park. The weather didn't matter. The million other families didn't matter. They were happy. And after they had left me, I realised that I had 'caught' some of their happiness too ...

Attending their baby's dedication this morning, I found myself remembering that. And thinking guiltily that there are times when I demand quite a lot to 'make' me happy ... rather than just being happy with what I am and what I have and where I am and rather than just loving life ... I pick and choose and want 'more' or 'better' or 'different'. Maybe, rather than demanding quite a lot to 'make' me happy, I should 'choose' to be happy. Even when it's cold and grey and wet. Or whatever (I am only too well aware that there are many worse things in life than inclement and depressing weather!).

The point is I don't need 'this' or 'that' to 'make' me happy ... I have God and all the many blessings He has given me right now. So right now I'm 'choosing' to be happy.

A lingering question is, would cookies and candies help?

Hmm ... !