what makes you happy?

You know you take life a little too seriously when you examine and seek to define what makes someone happy.....

I mentioned in my last post that I spent last weekend at a women's retreat and shared what I learned and how the Spirit is speaking to my heart.  What I didn't tell you was that I had a terrible sleep for that one night at FBC.  I was placed in a cabin with some lovely ladies and thought it would be pretty cool to get to know people that I didn't know very well, and even though I'm always a little "stiff" in those types of situations, it was cool!

Then the lights went out.

And people started to fall asleep.

And heavy breathing turned to deep, resonating snoring.

Now, I know people snore and while I did contemplate how sore my throat would be if I snored like that all night, I don't blame someone for something they can't control.... but I couldn't get to sleep!  I had a book that I tried to focus on (so glad I brought my little flashlight!) and even had my ipod, but the sounds were still there.  As the hours ticked by, I was becoming worried and (I'm ashamed to say) cranky!

The next morning one of my cabin mates commented on the late-night symphony and how she had to focus really hard to keep from giggling out loud.  giggling?

There I was getting cranky across the room and she was laughing about it!

Everyone is different of course, but I wonder about how I could train myself to be more like that!  The person that when their baby blows a raspberry of mushed peas all over the place, they burst out laughing at the peas on their face....or when your school-aged child draws a remarkably unflattering picture of you, a giggle escapes instead of a worried frown that this is how the child sees me?....

It's not like I never laugh, though the laughter has been a little more rare in the last months.   Who could help but laugh when your son says of the top you're wearing, "it looks like a tablecloth and that's a comment." (pretty sure he meant 'compliment')  I just wonder what it would take to release some of the burdens of the world and just enjoy what God has given, how He's blessed my life.

   But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; 

let them ever sing and shout for joy, 

because You make a covering over them and defend them; 

let those also who love Your name be joyful in You 

and be in high spirits.

psalm 5:11 (amplified)

Which type of person are you?  The kind who finds the funny in everything, or the kind who -like me- needs to be careful not to take life to seriously?

I'm pretty sure the Lord gave me Cassidy, our third-born to give me a daily reminder of His joy.  (Which happens to be her middle name.)  She has a smile that can light up any room, a cheerful disposition and an eye for fun!  Give her some strawberries with nutella and fresh flowers and you get a beautiful reward.

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart"

proverbs 15:30