Chapter 4, Page 6, Book 11

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!

Secret of Happiness

Unknown

A Chinese tale says that once, long ago, there was a household so happy that for nine generations none of its members had left it, except the daughters that marriage had taken away.

The fame of such domestic bliss reached the ears of the emperor. He sent an envoy to discover the secret.

The old father of the house, taking paper and brush, painted many characters, then handed his answer to the imperial envoy.

When the emperor unrolled the scroll, there was written three things to exercise every day:

Patience with circumstances,

Patience with others,

Patience with ourselves.

Sometimes we think there must be some secret to being happy. But the truth is so simple. To be happy and content with what we have and not to want what we don't have truly is the answer. In one of my morning devotionals earlier this week I was reminded that I'm not in charge of what others do. I'm in charge of trying to make sure that what I do is the right thing.

Living in the past is a dull and lonely business, looking back strains the neck
and causes you to bump into people not going your way

To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have

There is no such thing as the pursuit of happiness but there is the discovery of joy

And silence like a poultice, comes to heal the blows of sound

Peace is when time doesn't matter as it passes by

Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve; Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve.

Lenten Tip for Today: never speak negatively of your neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

I do hope your Wednesday is a WONDERFUL one.

'On Ya'-ma