Selling Happiness

happy |ˈhapē| adjective (happier, happiest) 1 feeling or showing pleasure or contentment: Melissa came in looking happy and excited | [ with clause ] :  we're just happy that he's still alive | [ with infinitive ] :  they are happy to see me doing well.
McDonalds for years have made a financial fortune selling happiness in little boxes called Happy Meals. They include a cheap burger or chicken nuggets french fries or apple slices, and a drink. The "Happy Meal" would not be complete without a cheap plastic toy. When my children were little they always wanted to eat at McDonalds and get a "Happy Meal." They could not wait to get the little toy often leaving their meal partially uneaten, except for Tanner. Tanner always ate his meal as well as his bothers if we let him. They were happy to play in the playground. After spending money on their happiness something always happened when we returned home. Their happiness did not last. The cheap toy broke. One brother did something to another brother. They did not want to clean their rooms, brush their teeth, or go to bed. NO more happiness for sons or parents. Our world is still trying to sell happiness. People fall for it everyday. A new cell phone cannot buy happiness. A new car cannot bring lasting happiness. Neither can new clothes, a new house, marriage, a new job, or anything else on this planet. I will concede that these things can bring temporary happiness. It does not last. Let that cell phone get dropped and the screen shattered. Let that new car get a scratch or a dent. Let that new house begin having maintenance issues.Let that new spouse not cook like mom or leave dirty clothes on the floor and dishes in he sink.  Let those new clothes get torn or stained. Let that new job become monotonous or you get criticized incessantly. I am selling the whole idea of happiness. Like a retail item on the self or an item in a grade sale I am seeing the idea of happiness. Happiness is an illusion. It comes from the words happen stance. Let the things happening around a person take a wrong turn and happiness ebbs like the waves at the beach. Happiness drains like water from a bathtub. Happiness melts like the ice in your glass of team on a summer day. Joy is a whole other matter. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit to a child of God. Joy has nothing to do with external circumstances. Joy can prosper in pain as well as prosperity. Joy is buoyant. It often brings both hope and peace. Pau exhorts to rejoice always. [Phil 4:4] We are not always going to be happy. How many times have a fallen for that lie. Many times I have planned family outings building up the location and experience in my mind of happy memories only to have them dashed on the rocks of a bad day. We fought. We had to wait in line. It was hot. The boys did not enjoy the experience like I hoped they would. Happiness the illusion we ever chase after but seldom capture and never corral forever. No. I am selling the whole idea of happiness and buying stock in joy. I believe the return on that investment will last into eternity.