Our Own Happiness

Happy New Year! It's 2017! Wow! I am pretty sure that the older one gets, the faster time goes by. I'm not sure how or why, it just is. I do wish it would slow down just a bit, but that's for another day.

I have a blog, I write on it as much as time allows me... so I feel like the obligatory thing to do would be to write about my top ten favorite things of 2016, and then write about my New Year's Resolutions for 2017. I mean, that's what everyone who writes blogs does, right?!? :)  I guess I could, but then again, maybe I won't. And looking back on 2016.. so many great moments. It would be hard to pick just a few. I guess that is one of the reasons I love pictures so much, because there is proof that our life is a gift! That we do have so many blessings. That there are so many people and things to be grateful for. Don't get me wrong.. there is plenty of sadness and suffering, plenty of times I had tears running down my face (just read my journal if you don't believe me). But Jesus means for us to be happy, to be grateful.
Then again, I could write about all my hopes and dreams and goals for 2017.. but we all try to make resolutions and they are so hard to keep. It's kind of hard for us to "resolve" anything.  But I do know, I've learned a lot this past year through all the trials and joys, and wanted to share one reflection.

Every year, we aim to be happy. We aim to have a great year! We want to say, "This year, 2017... it's going to my year!" But then when we are trying to plan our lives, God throws us a curve ball, as if saying, "Hold on a minute... wait for me. Let me show you my plan for you. Trust me and my will." And then we might get upset, sad, depressed, as our life is just not as we have planned. Things may have happened as we wanted, or may have not happened as we wanted in our life. We may try to change or control others and think that then we will be happy if this just happens. But just a minute... deep breath.. flash news---- We only have control over ourselves. We are the only ones that can make ourselves happy. We need to be happy with ourselves, by what we say and do. We need to live our life for Jesus. Not for others.. by what they say about us, or do for us. Others can't make us happy. And we have no control over what they do. Sure, we can influence people, but they ultimately have the last choice of their own life. Life is not fair. Life is hard. There is suffering all around, and all in different ways. But we only have ultimate control over our life, over how we live. Are we doing things to receive praise from others, or are we doing things because we want to serve Jesus through serving others? We can be joyful, kind, compassionate and share that with others around us. It may not seem like much, or that we can make a difference. But I know for a fact how much a smile, a hello, a hand held, a hug, a hand written note, or even homemade cookie dough can mean--- it can mean the world and make someone's life just a little brighter. It it can be that water of grace that they just needed!

Read this quote from Dynamic Catholic this morning... and thought there couldn't be a better way to reflect and start the new year!!

"Gratitude should always be our first response for all the Blessings in our lives. Our second response should be to live a life worthy of the blessings we have received." 

And a quote by Harold S Kushner,

"Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are." 

I just love them both.. and maybe instead trying to make resolutions that others can see or measure... maybe trying to grow "resolve" my heart more toward gratitude and kindness is something much more worth while to aim for in 2017. As then I would be sharing more in the water of grace with all those around me and be more of an instrument of Jesus's love for each of His children.