Happiness is Thankfulness

Dear Diary,
I am a firm believer in counting my blessings.  I have a few friends who believe that too.  ;-)

If one is disciplined in this practice, I believe one's heart (mind, will, emotions) fills with optimism and happiness, crowding out self-pity, envy, and depression*.

In Jr. High, my chorus sang the song, Happiness, [click for link] from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  It describes what "happiness is:"

• five different crayons
• two kinds of ice cream
• knowing a secret
• learning to tell time
• finding a nickel

just to name a few!  What is this song really doing?  It is counting blessings.  Appreciating even the small things that happen, the little "niceties" we have.

While Charlie Brown and friends sing about happiness, they are really proclaiming that a thankful heart breeds happiness.  Which segues into another song, a la Veggie Tales [click for link]. 

Madame Blueberry is never satisfied with what she has, and therefore is (fill in the blank) .  Yes, children, the answer is unhappy.  It is the poor, simple family who reminds her that a thankful heart is a happy heart. 




People notice happy people. 
People envy happy people.
Envy no more. 
The answer is here. 
Be Thankful. 

Have a blessedly Happy Thanksgiving,
LJ

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
1 Timothy 4:4

*Just clarifying so I don't get messages about this, I am referring to being depressed, not the clinical kind of depression, which can't usually be solved solely with the formula mentioned.