If You’re Happy and You Know It by ACHUCKAllen
Do you remember singing that song as a kid? Man, it could go on for days, but the whole song was great. Although it might have been a question, it was quite a deliberate order. It said IF YOU ARE HAPPY, DO NOT KEEP IT TO YOURSELF, GoofBall!
It sounded happy and easy and kid-like…“You know what? If you are happy your face and your whole you ought to show it…Right?”
I’m not sure when I stopped singing that song, but it was way too early to stop it!
I know folks that haven’t been happy since they were in kindergarten. I know others that once were happy, but haven’t felt happy for decades. And I know folks that have that fake happy kinda giggle that makes me want to puke. Sorry. As someone said to me recently, “you know Chuck, you don’t have to be that transparent.”
My point is, that I have listened to preachers and teachers speak of life as a Christ-follower as if they were terminally in pain. That as a Christian, fun was not to be considered and my favorite is, well if you didn’t drive that car, you could feed 14,213 Haitian orphans each month.
Let me get control of my rant for just a sec………OKAY.
I recognize that this life has its fair share of heartache. I know the pain that this life can dish out. We all have seasons in our life that just beat the fool out of us. But for goodness sakes! If there is no joy in your life STOP. Seriously STOP! Stop breathing and watch what happens. Stop eating and see what happens. Stop looking at the sun setting over the lake, stop listening to music, stop watching a ballgame – just STOP!
This weird planet, full of weird people can frustrate the crud out of you. But should you choose to sing that little song while you drive the kids to the park, or on the way to work, or even better, as you lay in the Seaside sun with a little umbrella in your glass…just bless your heart, but sing it and mean it. Make the people next to you wildly uncomfortable and sing your guts out. Try to sing it like Lynyrd Skynyrd, or Billy Ray Cyrus. Maybe try it like Bono or Ed Sheran. Put your own little funky style on it and let er rip, tater chip! But sing it!
Then stop and say out loud, three things that you are grateful for. If you aren’t fired-up and ready to get a little happy on, well…contact Beth and get on my calendar. You might just be dead. Come on! Get Fired Up! It’s Wednesday. Who doesn’t love a great Wednesday?
Happiness is found in peace, not in a purchase.
Happiness is a choice, not a chore.
Happiness is hope, not a handout.
Happiness is a mindset, not a feeling.
Happiness is yours if you want it enough to trust the Divine with it.
Happiness is contentment and a passion for greater contentment,
If You’re Happy & You Know It – Get Fired Up!
–AChuck
