Happiness Is Up To You

God Said NO
By Julie Serrano

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, no. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, no. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, no. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it is not granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness. God said, no. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, no. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things, that I might enjoy life. God said, no. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me... God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

Thanks 4 sharing this with me Julie! I especially like, "I give you blessings; happiness is up to you."

We can choose happiness at any time. Its "clutter" that often distracts us from happiness. I use the term clutter purposely. No matter how we define and label our distractions, in the "mind of God" or the grand scheme of the universe, all of our issues, challenges, fears, are but clutter. According to A Course In Miracles, the only thing that's real is God and God is love, everything else is an illusion. Therefore, if it ain't God its an illusion. If it ain't love, it's an illusion. A Course In Miracle further asserts, there are only two emotions- love and fear. If we're not loving, we are oprating from fearing. A mind consumed with fear is a cluttered mind.

Clutter encompasses so very much, looking for love, loss of love, fear of love, fear of not being loved, addictions, hatreds, phobias and a multitude of isms, financial concerns, career concerns, as well demons from past, present, and anticipated. A cluttered mind is an unhappy mind preoccupied with illusions. An unhappy mind creates unhappiness. Unhappiness attracts unhappy people, places, themes and situations. A life consumed by unhappy people, places, themes and situations is the unhappy life defined. Happy people strive to face, manage, and transcend the clutter of our minds and lives. Simply put a happy mind chooses happiness. Therefore, happiness is indeed a choice.