Real happiness.

I'm often jealous of people who have bubbly personalities... and I often find myself trying to figure out why I can't just have the same attitude with life. I mean, I have my moments where I'm all giddy with happiness (probably most often in the fall, because it's my favorite) but more often than not I'm either being just plain embarrassing or I'm being utterly too involved with what my latest thought is. I then catch myself in this and once again wonder why I can't just have a cute smile on my face and giggle at the appropriate times and be happy about everything....

And then I realize that just because these girls are bubbly and adorable doesn't mean that they are happy. And even if they are, it doesn't mean that they are getting their happiness from where they should be.

Real happiness comes only from Christ. Real happiness comes through being grateful...extending hospitality...being forgiving.

Let's go so far as to say that at this point it shouldn't be called happiness anymore, it's called JOY.

Happiness gives the impression that if you have Christ and are doing all the right things, then you will be happy all of the time, and nothing can ever make you sad or angry....which just simply isn't true.

Joy on the other hand makes me think of eyes that shine with love, a heart that can be hurting but still show so much kindness....someone who is not 'happy' but chooses to be joyful anyway.

I feel like whenever we want to be 'always happy' like those 'other people'...we should choose to be continuously joyful in every aspect of our lives.