Ya Know, We live in a world of advertisement that bombards us into thinking we need it, deserve it, and can't live without it! Being raised in a relatively poor family in the NW suburbs of Chicago we didn't have the things most people in our neighborhood had. What I did have was a Mother and Father who Loved me very much! I didn't realize we were poor until I went to school and saw what other kids had. I use to dream what it would be like "If Only"...
We seem to look at material things as a way to happiness. As a young man I was determined to work hard and reward myself with material possesions that would surely bring happiness which they did...temporarily! Then my sights were set on something else. If only we had a bigger house, if only I made more money. As we moved to a bigger house and I made more money it was never enough. I always was wanting bigger and better things to fill that void in my life.
For me that void was filled when I was 38 years old and turned my life over to Christ. That's when I found the true meaning of happiness. I realized there is more to this life than material things. What I realize now is the Love I received from my parents made me the wealthiest kid on the block. Now, God's Love through Christ Jesus gives me Hope, Joy and Peace during the storms this world brings. We are all a heart beat away from eternity and we can't take the material things of this world with us but what we can take is Love!
As a believer in Christ I try to be transparent as that's the way God see's us. He looks into our hearts! Hopefully those I come in contact with during my day can see the Love of Christ thru me. I struggle with the things of this world just as we all do. But at the end of the day I can rest my head in my pillow and know that no matter what happened that day, my God Loves me and will never leave or forsake me. For me, this is the true meaning for happiness.
What I like to do when I feel the opression of a stressful day is not to look at what I don't have, instead look at what God has Blessed me with. This always has a way of lifting me up and put things in perspective. Maybe this will help you. Try it some time.
Thanks for letting me share, God Bless!
JR