A lesson in forced happiness

[Jeremy Tramell]

***Warning!  This may come across as unhappy, but trust me, its not.***

 

Thanks to this forum, I have found a happy haven. The following is a small story, used to provide imagery and an example of an inner story I have been dealing with for a couple of days.

 

  I went out, collected my happy sticks, and my happy rocks, my happy leaves and my happy flint and made my way towards my happy haven, my cheerful cave, my joyful jungle hut.   When I arrived, it seemed as though a mean ol' bear came in and destroyed my haven. There was trash everywhere, any sibilance of order had been removed.   I left to go get firewood, and came back to Ground Zero. Where did I go wrong?   Did the bear not see the sign out front that said "No bears, were trying something here." 

"Lord, help me understand where I went wrong.  Help me convey the error of my ways so that others may learn from my example."   I prayed. 

 

The answer! 

 

When I started HappyTalk I wanted to create an electronic outlet for me and my friends to get away from the troubles and cares of the worldly and deceptive Internet.    I was on a spiritual high, I had just rededicated my life to the one who created me, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  My joy was in him, and from.  The bible says in Nehemiah 8:10 (Old testament) "The Joy of the Lord is my strength."   But what does that mean, the Joy of the "Lord" is my strength?   Well, this passage comes write in the middle of the Israelis return to Jerusalem.  Ezra (a priest) was reading the Book of the Law(Deuteronomy) and Nehemiah (the Governor) saw that the Book of the Law was being received with tears and sadness, stepped forward and Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.   This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength"

 

Needless to say, the "bear" was able to come in a wreck the place because I had no protection, I had not made it clear, that this site was created because I had found true Joy.   I relied on my own happiness to "get" everyone happy.  Needless to say, none of us can do it on our own, we need each other, we need our family and most importantly we need our Creator. 

 

Now, I know, some of you out there in Internet land are aghast at the thought of being told about Jesus.  For 20 some years I was the same way, I mean, I believed in Jesus, but if someone were to tell me about Him, I would be like yeah yeah yeah, I know.   I am sensitive to that fact and I don't expect to tell you about Jesus every time I log on to HappyTalk.  I feel that is much better to be an example of Christ.    But, as your friend, I do have the obligation to tell you where the source of my Happiness is coming from. 

[Shirttavious]

JT , Thank you for sharing. If your joy does flow from your personal
relationship with Jesus Christ maybe you should share THAT JOY. Even
though I Know Jesus I have not found that the going down here on earth
in this life has been an abiding jumpin' for joy type of trip. It's
probably something I'm missing, so please share all you want. Is the
"bear" satan in your story?