My Happy Place

I have a friend whose happy place is a cabin up north. She goes there to forget about work and just unplug with a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine, and her family. Everybody needs a place like that I think. Do YOU have a happy place?

Yesterday my wife and I celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. We didn't have a big party. We didn't get each other anniversary gifts or cards. We simply spent the day together, alone, by ourselves.

This is not a complaint about being alone on our anniversary. Not at all. My wife and I were alone quite intentionally! That's how we began. Alone, together.

We have our differences. Religion and politics have started more that one "discussion" in our house. But what keeps us together is our love for one another. Our love is stronger than all those things.

Is it any wonder that God's "first and greatest commandment" is to love? Love God and love each other. It's a pretty simple command but it is also a difficult one to keep.

"37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:37-39

The key to love is selflessness. Thinking of the other before we think of ourselves.

But what happens when our "happy place" is threatened or, God forbid, even removed? What happens when we lose the very thing that makes us the happiest?

This might be a little tough to hear but . . . we should not be interested in our own happiness. Yes, we all want to be happy but think about it for a minute. Should our "happiness" be dependent on other people? Honestly, I think our happiness has got to be dependent upon ourselves, not other people, places or things. It is our attitude towards God that determines more than happiness. It determines our joy!

I finished reading to Book of Job not that long ago. Job lost everything - his sons and daughters, his possessions. Yet Job kept His faith in God. Sure he complained about things. Sure he got upset and frustrated. But when God is foremost in our lives, as He was in Job's, when God is the most important thing about us, God sees that and will bless us.

There is nothing I can say to those who have lost a loved one that will make them feel happy. But I DO know that when we find our joy in the Lord He will give us the desires of our hearts. He has promised us that! And doesn't that sound like a happy place to be?

Without You - For King and Country