For those of us who did not have online news and social media as children, do you remember enjoying The Reader’s Digest?

Honestly, there was only one section that I really enjoyed as a child: “Laughter Is the Best Medicine.”  Perhaps that is why I still enjoy a good “Dad Joke” every now and then.  I like to laugh.  I like verses like Proverbs 17:22: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

However, I think we can agree that while walking through our day-to-day lives, most people seem to have dried up bones – not joyful hearts.  Why?

As adults, we know that life is hard.  The responsibilities we have seem enormous.  The pressures we endure seem relentless.  The weight of the world seems to rest on our shoulders.  It is enough to steal our laughter.

Of course, I also realize that you cannot go through life in a constant state of hilarity.  Good things (like happiness) can be taken to an extreme.  However, Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is a time to laugh.

God knows how important joy is.  He even told the Israelites to set aside days of celebration that Numbers 10:10 calls “joyous occasions.”  We cannot be healthy if we are not enjoying life.

The problem we face is not understanding what brings real joy to life.  Paul stated in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  True joy comes from a life that is right with God.

Jesus clarified this as we read what He said in John 15:11-12: “‘I have told you these things that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.”  Love God.  Love others.  That is the source of true joy.

One will have to try really hard to not experience joy if they love God and love others.  And I do not believe that most of us want to not experience joy.

So, I choose the happier road.  I choose to love God and love others.  I choose to recognize how blessed I am and how much of a blessing I can be to others.

Will you?

Click the picture below to find an additional resource that might help you choose joy…