Chris, Diana and Brody
The other night, I was telling Diana, his wife, how difficult it was for me to bring Chris into the world! He apparently, just did not want to be here! But, he finally made his grand entrance, and we were so happy and excited to meet this sweet baby and to see his cute little face! Chris has always had the ability to make me smile - it didn't matter how mad or upset I was with him - Chris could say something funny and I couldn't help but smile and forgive him (not always a good thing!). Not only is he funny, he's smart, hardworking, charming and very handsome! We sure do love him, Happy Birthday Chris!
For some reason, this time of year is always hard for me. I get melancholy and kind of moody, I guess I would call it - sad. It's something I have had to fight for many years . . . and it looks like another year of fighting!
In Proverbs 17:22 it says ~
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
We all have the ability to be cheerful or merry, all most of the time, despite your circumstances. Cheerfulness or happiness, can't be bought or given to us by someone else, it is within us. It's waiting is for us to water it, nurture it and bring it to life! Here are a few suggestions that I find helpful - believe me, I'm not always happy and cheerful - I have to work hard at it!
1. In your morning prayers, ask Heavenly Father to help you make the decision to be cheerful on that day and always. Being cheerful is not an emotion you feel, it's a choice you make. Don't make the mistake of thinking you have no control over your feelings and emotions. You may be going through difficult or trying times, but being angry, bitter and miserable about them won't solve anything.
2. Make up your mind right now to make the most of your day, the most of every minute, every second, every breath, every heartbeat. Focus on one single thing to be cheerful about and magnify it. It may not be much, but the more you force yourself to find the good in your life and those around you, the easier it will become to recognize all the small miracles in your everyday life.
3. Bloom where you are planted. Don't wait until you are in a better place to let your light shine, be content where you are now. You may not be in the best place, or the place you want to be, but if you gripe and complain, you will never get there. If you can remain cheerful and excited about your future, make no mistake, God will reward you and transplant you to a better place. It may not be a physical place but a better place mentally!
4. Don't hide your beautiful smile, light the world with it. Not only does it relax your body, it helps keep it healthy. Don't wait until things in your life are going well to smile, do it now.
5. Learn how to serve and to give. Give encouragement, give a smile, give a hug, give cookies, give hope. When you give of yourself, your time, and your resources, not only will you make others happy, but you will feel whole, complete, happy and cheerful.
Martha Washington said:
I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.
Hugs and love,
9 comments:
When my dd and I went to Pt. Townsend yesterday we were noticing trees turning color and saying we weren't ready this year for fall because of the weird summer we've had. I usually can hardly wait for it because I get a spurt of energy, but so far this year seems to be different. Happy Birthday to your son. Do you think you could have SAD? I pray that God will touch you and heal the depression.
Happy Birthday to Chris! I can certainly see why he could always 'get around' his Mama! He is a gorgeous man and I'm sure was a sweetheart of a little boy.
And I'm so happy for him, and for his family. One of those nice things coming to nice guys, eventually. How lucky, lucky, lucky are all 3 of them. And that picture certainly looks as if they alllllll realize their good fortune.
And how wonderful for his Mama, to see all this.
And guess what, Mama? He didn't turn out so well, just by chance, ya' know! When we look at our kids, and they're good kids, we can rightly think; "We musta' have done something right!" :-)
Gentle hugs...
As to feeling depression, at this time of year... The good parts are... You realize it. You aren't in denial, about how you feel. And when we recognize anything, we have a better chance of dealing well, with it.
Not everything in life, can be totally "cured" or completely turned around. But at least, it can't sneak-up on us and "floor us," before we realize what's going on... When we know it's coming.
You've probably done some "inside searching," to see if you can find any obvious triggers, for this feeling... In your childhood, or early past or whatever. And tried to deal with it/them...
Or maybe it's simply brought on by the way the Seasons changing [from fully growing Summer, to "dying-off" harvesting Fall] effect you. If so, maybe you could do some research on how this is best handled. Because no matter what sets-us-off, there are always others, who have the same experiences. :-)
I know I can get depressed in the parts of the year, where it stays dark and sun-less, for days... Like late Fall [dismal and rainy and ugh!] and then, the late-Winter part of the year. [Cold, icy, sunless, house-bound, ugh!] ,-)
Funny thing is, I'm NO "sun-worshiper"! I just like to see it, out my windows, I guess. -grin-
Sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry... I rambled, yet again! Sorrrrrrrrrrrrry... Eeeeeek! :-)
Hi Bab,
Please wish Chris a belated but happy birthday wish, he is indeed a handsome young man, and he has a beautiful family as well. Loved the photo. Getting family together to celebrate is one of the best things in life.
I so enjoyed and appreciate the steps you have given on being cheerful, I need to copy them and remind myself. I am always so blessed when I visit you.
Enjoy your Labor Day.
Hugs,
Su
Hi Barb,
Belated birthday wishes to your handsome son! I know you are very proud of him and rightly so. He sounds so much like my own son who is also all those things...handsome, charming, smart, etc. and the makes me laugh! He is so funny and loves to play pranks! Aren't they so much fun to be around? Sometimes just thinking of something he has said or done will make me smile...even when he is miles away.
I hope you keep the gloomies away this fall. I have some of that when winter comes and it's so cold and gloomy outside. I try to concentrate on what the bible tells me to do...think on that which is good and pure and lovely...but some days it's just hard to, isn't it? (Personally, I'm just a little suspicious of all of those perpetually cheerful people...LOL!!)
Hope you have a good week, Barb! And thanks for sharing your suggestions. And I'll add one if I may...when you feel down, just think of something your son said to make you smile and you'll feel better again!
Hugs,
Cheryl
Hi Barb,
Happy Birthday (Belated) to Chris! I hope he had a wonderful day! He is a handsome guy, and has a lovely family. :)
Thank you for posting these tips on how to be cheerful. I need to print them out too. This is something I've been praying about in my own life...to choose to be cheerful!
I hope you have a joyful Labor Day!...and a wonderful week! Bless you.
~Hugs~ :)
happy birthday chris (good son, father, friend and hubby)!
girl, you have done it again. your words of encouragement have touched my heart again.
big hugs.
Happy Birthday to your son Chris...a great blessing in your life and the life of his family. Surely that can't be Aspens in you area turning already? I am so ready for cooler weather but not what comes with it. I am sorry you are having some struggles right now with the fall season coming on. I love fall but it's the winter that begins to get me down. I do so much better with bright sunny days. The gray dreary days of winter are hard and I have to work like crazy to keep myself going. Like you I need more time to sit on the patio, walk barefoot in the grass, eat more watermelon and play outside with my grandkids.
Thanks for sharing thoughts on being cheerful. I am normally a very upbeat person, but like you I work at it. Seems like if I keep my hands busy I do better. I will be thinking of you and wishing you "happy thoughts". Thanks for sharing your thoughts they are right on.
Nola
Just popped over and wanted to say hi. Enjoyed a first visit here. Following....
Love your DIL's name!
Come see me sometime.
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