MONIQUE MICHEL / L’Observateur / March 3, 1999

Something strange happens at school every day. No matter who you are, you arebound to get smiles and “hello’s” wherever you go. Nobody forces us to be happyor friendly, we want to be. Weird, huh? Some people think so. At the beginning ofthe year a new student told my friends and me that we had no reason to smile so much. But we do, and his name is Jesus.Life at school was not always like this, and we all have our bad days, but our lives are fuller and happier because of the joy we experience in Jesus. Nehemiah8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is our strength and stronghold. I’ve never beenmuch of a cheerful person, just ask my Paw-Paw Keller, but lately I’ve been so happy that some of my friends ask me if I’m on drugs. I can tell them that I’vegot joy that no drug can give me.

Happiness does not always come naturally. Sometimes we have to work on it byseeing the best in the situations that we’re in. Even if you don’t think you haveanything to be happy about, at least you’re alive. Leonid Sukhorukov said “Life isnot a laughing matter – but can you imagine having to live without laughing?” If everyone went around stone faced and gloomy, it would be so depressing. Haveyou ever been around a person who never smiled and enjoyed life? Are you one of those people? If you are, what keeps you from being happy? Whatever it is, you need to get rid of it. (If your problem is a parent, spouse or child, obviouslygetting rid of them would not be the best advice!) If people purposely keep you from being happy, just smile so often at them to the point of annoyance.

Happiness is almost always contagious, and even if they don’t become happy, they’ll probably leave you alone.

Everywhere we go we should see it as an opportunity to spread the happiness that we have to others. So the next time you’re at school or the grocery store,smile at somebody and you may just make their day.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to me at P.O. Box 1493,LaPlace, La. 70069 or at straightkids@juno.com.

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