"If You're Happy and You Know It . . ."

Where does the word, ‘happy’ come from?  I’ll leave you to find the origin in the dictionary.  I know this.  I certainly want to be happy; want to feel happiness.

For too many of us, I’m thinking a happy mood doesn't exist long enough.  Could it be because worry invades our hearts and minds smothering happiness?  I’ve decided, yes – a huge reason I choose to monitor my attention to the daily news.

I'm drawn to the emotional influence of good music, have written about it in past blog posts.  I'm remembering when I was a divorced-middle-aged mother of young adult children, Bobby Ferrin’s “Be Happy” shook me out of the doldrums.  Now Pharrell William’s “Happy” has me and communities world-wide laughing and moving, keeping positivity in charge. 

Lately, I've found myself listening to “Toddler Tunes”, background music, bubbly entertainment as I move about doing chores to the Music Choice TV channel.  Happy is heavily marketed in lyrics aimed at the little ones and their guardians.   From birth, it seems we are encouraged to ‘be happy’. 

Happy is good for the economy earning billions of dollars for many industries. 

  

Alcohol and, I think, non-prescribed drugs have habit making appeal as people grab a quick route toward a ‘happy’ state.   Unfortunately, chocolate,  ice cream, and cookies, potentially dangerous as well, help me make it through rough patches.   (Shopping is fairly effective also.)

I would like to see more families connected with a house of worship where their fellowship and service would help enrich the lives of families and people at all ages. I've discovered the truth in my father's advice that, "happiness is found when you help others."  

“The bible says……..”   But wait, such thinking took my mind to realize I couldn’t recall reading the word ‘happy’ in the bible.  Joy, pleasure, blessed, glad, rejoice, and cheerful?  Yes.  Happy?  The more I thought about it, the more I found myself believing ‘happy’ was not in the bible. 

But of course it is.  And, with the help of a biblically trained, deeply spiritual member of my home church congregation, I confirmed ‘happy’ is in the Bible.  The birth of a child inspired happiness as did joining with others celebrating.  Happy was noted as subjects respectfully appreciated a wise and prosperous leader.  And the thought of seeing vengeance suffered for wrong experienced projected a state of happiness.  Finally there was a pronouncement of the value of living a happy life.  See below each scripture.  

Leah’s maid bore a second son for Jacob “And Leah said, Happy am I! For the women will call me happy.” Genesis 30:13

In 1^st Kings, reading of Solomon’s prosperity- “Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were happy.” 1^st Kings 4:20

Also in 1^st Kings, Sheba finding Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity surpassed all she had heard about said it. “Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!” 1^st Kings 10:8.   (The same is found in 2^nd Chronicles 9:7.)

 The Exiles in Babylon – “O Daughter of Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall he be who requites you with what you have done to us!  Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!”  Psalm 137: 8, 9

In Ecclesiastes, The words of the Preacher referring to the sons of men, “I know there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.”  Ecclesiastes 3:12

Summarily, my research found  ‘happy’ a mere eight times in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible I chose from my library, that being The Bible, Revised Standard Version, an American Bible Society product, latest noted publishing date in the 1970's. 

                                          *      *     *     *     *

I’m thinking connecting to ‘happy’ as a goal achievable through spending money - buying things is  an amazingly successful marketing strategy.  That doesn’t make me happy.  How do you help improve the well-being of others?   Sharing a smile is a perfect start.     

Old Friends

There’s nothing quite like friendships from way back.

Me & college BFF's 30 years after our graduation. Pic 25 years ago.

Yesterday a new friend introduced a smiling woman, her best friend, she said, since they were nine years old.  The friends beaming face confirmed it.

Ole’ devil envy momentarily crept into my being because I have no friends from my grade-school days in Zanesville, Ohio although a few names are imprinted in my memory . . . Bonnie Jean, Mary Helen, Jeannie, Ruth Ann, Dixie, Myrna.  If you read Black Star Girl you may recall how my father and mother moved us north, to rural Ohio when I was twelve years old.  Yesterday I was jealous in the aura of those ladies who knew each other since elementary school.

A few years ago, a woman at the Zanesville Public Library, waiting for my talk and book signing, introduced herself wondering if I remembered, “We used to play hop-scotch together”.   When she said her name, I did remember Shirley. It was a good moment.  

These days, I’m thinking, it’s pure gold for individuals to have mutually cared about one another down through the years – to be friends forever.  May the two whose company I shared yesterday always be together, even when they are not.  That’s how true friendships are, there’s an understanding that overcomes even sporadic contact.  

May I find myself picking up the telephone to hear the voice of a friend not heard in perhaps, years.  I had the experience last weekend.  “I’ve been thinking about you,” Ruby said.  Not until a half hour later when the telephone was back in its stand, did I realize,  with our conversation a happy calm had blessed me.  My heart was full of gratitude. 

I know what to do.  I’ll pass it on.  Old friends, you’re going to hear from me!