Much More Than Happiness

Sometimes, it can be none other than the Lord's prompting to write about certain things. I wouldn't say I like this about myself, but sometimes - often. I am a glass-half-empty girl when it comes to perspective. It stems from my battle - forgetting that I am a daughter of the King with full rights to choose and exercise the spirit of gratefulness every day. I have my moments, my ups and downs, when it comes to gratefulness, so writing about this is most likely more for me than anyone reading it!

So, what would it look like if I committed to continually practicing gratefulness? Identifying with those who drip and ooze with gratitude... I'm just not there yet. However, once, I met someone very close to mastering gratitude. 

A few years ago, when my human preference to maintain a reserved mannerism and the prescribed amount of personal space was radically challenged, I met Dani. We were working together with secondary students in a small school. If working with teenagers and being in a small school was not enough change for me, her wonderfully extroverted disposition, out-loud love for life, and joyful disposition were! I loved Dani immediately, but my personality was quite the opposite. Quickly, I realized there was something different about her - more than just an expertise in handling students, so I watched closely. She knew what she was doing in this setting. As I watched her lead students, I wanted to see if I could mimic or pull off some variation of such behavior.

I struggled with others invading my personal space or having attention drawn to me, but Dani was a natural. She danced down the halls until the day's end, waved her arms in worship, and sang like no one was looking, and she didn't seem to mind if they did. It was not a showy display. It was quite the contrary as somehow her vibrancy, enthusiasm, and genuine love for Jesus spread around the room, blessing all who were within view. I was happy, I said to myself. I loved Jesus. I worshiped, I reasoned. I raised my hands (in my mind.) Secretly, I would have liked to have danced down the halls with her, but the cameras were on, and that did it for me! In all, Dani had so much more than happiness. There was something more. She understood what it meant to be grateful to God not because of her outward actions but because of the spirit that flowed from her life.

My friend had an infectious laugh that rang through our monotonous meetings and always lightened the moment at the right time. She never met a stranger and had pet names for students she loved. If she didn't have one for you, it was sure it was only a matter of time before you, too, would be among her favorites, bearing one of her terms of endearment, which usually involved some new-fangled way to say your name. Every student was her favorite student. She must have drawn a smile with her lip pencil across her face each day because she had one facial expression - happiness! If you were with her for more than ten seconds, you could also catch the vibe and laugh and smile. How could anyone be so happy? My more reserved but inquiring mind wanted to know. Still, it took very little time to understand her story. Dani had much more going on than the outward appearance depicted. Her outlook on life was deeply rooted in much more. On the outside, she was a picture of health and happiness. Still, on the inside of her physical body, Dani fought a battle for her life every day due to a progressive and debilitating disease. You would never have known it unless you were privy to that information. Despite her struggle with health, she lived each day with gratitude, genuinely abiding in Jesus and full of thankfulness for each day.

My time working with her was short but impactful. I learned what it meant to be happy and genuinely grateful for everything. Today, she still impacts many students and staff every day. Happiness is still present, and gratefulness is still abounding. She encouraged me to enlarge my introverted bubble just a little and set me on the path to pursuing gratitude with my whole heart.

What about you? You may not have been faced with severe health issues. Yet, something else plagues your happiness and clouds your willingness to be genuinely grateful. As this question is posed, your mind gravitates to that problem. It could be a wayward child that you continually pray for but see no evidence of change or that job that is beyond the stress level you can manage for much longer. Possibly, it's a relationship that you can't seem to salvage or a specific need that continually goes unmet. Regardless of the affliction, these invaders seek not only to take your happiness but also to steal the process of cultivating gratefulness. It doesn't just happen. Gratefulness must be planted, nurtured, and continually pruned in a willing receptacle known as the human heart. 

Everyone needs a Dani in their life... even if it's just for a little while.

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

"Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly." Psalm 111:1 (NASB)