Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. (Abraham Lincoln)

Is this another example of “mind over matter”? It is a good reminder that we are responsible, not just for how we act, but also for how we think. In other words, it’s often a matter of attitude. We can choose to let circumstances or other people control our emotions, or we can take our responsibility seriously and choose to be in control of our attitude.

Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires … [and] be made new in the attitude of your minds. (Ephesians 4:22-23)

STOP AND THINK – In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy. (Karl Reiland, 20^th century Episcopalian clergyman)

No doubt, you can be happy all by yourself. Being alone can be a great time for rest and meditation. But when you move out into the world in service to others, the happiness quotient seems to increase. Time alone can be used to prepare ourselves and to plan how to best serve others. Serving others has double benefit—theirs and ours.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. (1 Peter 4:10)

STOP AND THINK – To be depressed is to be lonely; to have a friend is to be happy. (Author unknown)

Maybe, it’s the other way around: to be lonely is to be depressed. In any case, it’s clear that we were created to live in community. John Donne was right when he said, “No man is an island.” When we have friends, we can share our disappointments and find encouragement; we can share our joys and cheer others.

The pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice (Proverbs 27:9). A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).

STOP AND THINK – There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. (Epictetus, 2^nd century Greek Stoic philosopher)

There are a lot of “one ways,” aren’t there? Everyone seems to have the one way to do this or that, and many of the ideas are good ones. Epictetus’s comment has stood the test of time and is as true today as it was in A.D. 135 when he died. If we could just recognize that there are things beyond our control and stop worrying about them, we could be much happier.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. (Matthew 6:34)

STOP AND THINK – If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people. (Charles-Louis Montesquieu, 18^th century French political philosopher)

Is Montesquieu right? Do we really want to be happier than others? Maybe it’s just human nature—always wanting to have more than someone else. But the writer goes on to say that to be happier than others “…is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.” We should be content with what we have without comparing ourselves to others.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11). Be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5).

STOP AND THINK – Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. (C. S. Lewis, British Christian apologist)

Affection is defined as “tender attachment, fondness.” It’s a sentiment we experience when we’re among friends, people we appreciate, and we’re comfortable with. And most of us would say that it’s when we’re with those friends that we are most happy. Perhaps, if we were to broaden our acquaintances and develop more friends, we’d find more happiness.

One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. (Proverbs 22:11)

STOP AND THINK – Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy marshmallows, which is close. (Anonymous)

We probably don’t take this as a serious statement, but maybe it should make us think about life a little more seriously. Marshmallows are a bit of fluff, and there seems to be a lot of that in life today. But, money is a pretty important element. However, can either money or marsh-mallows bring happiness? Certainly, nothing of any lasting joy.

Whoever loves money never has enough . . . Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:10, 19)

STOP AND THINK – Happiness is to take up the struggle in the midst of the raging storm and not to pluck the lute in the moonlight or recite poetry among the blossoms. (Ding Ling, 20^th century Chinese author)

Just as genuine love is not spooning by the lagoon under the moon in June, so real happiness is not simply enjoying the pleasant things of life. Love is actively working for others’ benefit. So happiness is to be found in actively working for good in the midst of opposition and struggles. Don’t give up when difficulties come. Work hard in spite of them and be happy.

The Apostle Paul, “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

STOP AND THINK – We plan for happiness, but we’re formed by suffering. (David Brooks, cultural commentator)

Suffering and happiness don’t seem to belong in the same sentence. How can we suffer and, at the same time, be happy? The answer lies in thinking beyond the physical to the spiritual. For the most part, it’s not the joyful experiences of life that mold us, it’s the tough times, the struggles. We can be happy that trials have built our character, have made us what we are.

Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials . . .  so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold . . . may result in praise, glory and honor. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

STOP AND THINK – Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections. (Tim Timberlake, protestant pastor)

If happiness depended on living in a perfect environment, none of us would know what it is like to be happy. No one lives in a perfect family, community, or society. But we know a lot of happy people, don’t we? How can that be? Well, as Timberlake suggests, it means we have to overlook the imperfect, strive for the best we can, and be happy in the effort.

The Lord God: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

STOP AND THINK – If man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God? (Blaise Pascal, 17^th century French scientist and Christian philosopher)

We live in a society that has become more and more secular. Atheists and agnostics often take center stage these days, attracting more and more non-religious people or dissatisfied “believers.” When life becomes difficult, however, the stress of disappointment and failure causes many to seek something beyond themselves in order to achieve happiness.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God. (Psalm 42:5)

STOP AND THINK – To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy—is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19^th century American essayist)

If you’re not a morning person, perhaps this is the best way to begin your day. Emerson says, “To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.” Wouldn’t you like to be able to do that—not to allow events and other people to set the tone for your day? Determine to be happy from the very start.

[God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is [his] faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)