Dear Husband volunteered to help plan his high school 50th reunion scheduled for this Fall. One of his duties is to contact classmates to tell them about the reunion. Catching up with folks he hadn’t had much, if any contact with, for fifty years has been enlightening. While searching for a former classmate, Husband visited a childhood friend who had grown up in the same rural neighborhood and attended the same little church as Husband and now lives only a few miles from there. Husband was well acquainted with the whole family. A younger brother had been his best friend in grade school, and the older siblings were also part his growing up years as were their parents. But instead of joy, there was heaviness when Husband returned home and recounted his visit. Three of the aging siblings were again living together – in a tiny, run-down house. None have spouses. A sister, now 70, is working at a gas station. One is unemployed and homeless except for an RV which he had parked in his brother’s yard the day before, and the other brother is overweight and in poor health spending his time in front of the TV. Same schools, church, economic level and yet what different life outcomes than Husband!
Don’t think that I’m basing my evaluation of their success or happiness on finances. The saddest part about the three siblings isn’t that they are poor. In fact, the property on which the shack sits is worth far more money than Husband and I will ever have. The saddest part is the broken relationships, the lack of purpose, and the narrowness of their lives. It is in their power to make choices that would lead to their happiness, but they are unwilling. 
How often has each of us said to ourselves, “Later.”? “This hard thing can be done later- there will be a more convenient, more opportune time. I will be in the right mood later. There will be fewer distractions later. I will be braver later. Fear of not being enough will magically fade later. I will be more motivated later. I just don’t feel like doing it right now. Life is OK as it is. I know I should do that, but this is easier. I will be smarter later. Right now I’m getting by. I will start that later. (Just showing up is highly overrated. Not exciting.) This white lie, this minor cheat, this clever evasion, this secretive indulgence won’t hurt me or those who love me.”
Do you know someone who didn’t have a decent chance in life because of their childhood? We all know someone who had a dysfunctional family, or a physical handicap that should have prevented their success. But against all odds, they rose above the tough situations, did the hard work and with faith and a ‘can do’ attitude they pressed upward. These surprise successes make our hearts swell.
I have a dear friend who grew up as an orphan in a third-world country. Her aunt took her in, but treated her cruelly and laid heavy duties on her from a young age. She lacked love, opportunity, and good role models. As a young woman, she left her aunt’s home to get training in a trade. While in training, she met the two loves of her life- Jesus and her husband-to-be. Her life took an upward turn and she went on to serve the poor in remote areas of her country. Twenty years later, she and her family settled in the US where they all thrived and made impressive accomplishments in service to others. Their lives are happy and full and the world is a better place because of them.
We all know there are no guarantees in life. Two people can have the same opportunities but have vastly different outcomes. Two people can have different opportunities, but the one with less may surpass the one with more.
So here’s my personal list of How to Increase Your Happiness Right Now:
Do the right thing.
“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes…in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:8,11
“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4:17
“It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” 2 Peter 2:21-22
Do the hard thing.
“Go in by the narrow gate. For the wide gate has a broad road which leads to disaster and there are many people going that way. The narrow gate and the hard road lead out into life and only a few are finding it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Do the inconvenient thing.
“But God corrects us all our days for our own benefit, to teach us his holiness. Now obviously no “chastening” seems pleasant at the time: it is in fact most unpleasant. Yet when it is all over we can see that it has quietly produced the fruit of real goodness in the characters of those who have accepted it in the right spirit. So take a fresh grip on life and brace your trembling limbs. Don’t wander away from the path but forge steadily onward. On the right path the limping foot recovers strength and does not collapse.” Hebrews 12:10-13 
Do the loving thing.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Value the best things.
“The Spirit however, produces in human life fruits such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for . . . let us be guided by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
Be generous.
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38
“He who gives the seed to the sower and turns that seed into bread to eat, will give you the seed of generosity to sow, and, for harvest, the satisfying bread of good deeds well done. The more you are enriched by God the more scope there will be for generous giving. For your giving does not end in meeting the wants of your fellow-Christians. It also results in an overflowing tide of thanksgiving to God. Moreover, your very giving proves the reality of your faith, and that means that men thank God that you practice the Gospel that you profess to believe in, as well as for the actual gifts you make to them and to others.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-13
Be grateful
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
Love God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Spend time with people who are aspiring to do the above.
PS There was a glitch in the auto send-out of the blog last week. If you didn’t get the blog email last Thursday, just scroll down and click on “Previous Post Negative Nelly” to read last week’s blog.