It\u2019s not about the \u201cplace\u201d of bodies, but the place of love and, really, that can be any place: at home or there or here or anywhere. It\u2019s not about the weather: rain, sunshine, snow, or storm. It\u2019s not about the time of year: winter, spring, summer or fall, or the new year (though crossing over to 2021 sure brings hope for happy, healthy, harmonious and healing days again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My happy place is with these people. My people. My grands! Just look at those smiles! Any place with them or near them is my \u201chappy place\u201d. I can hear you grandparents shouting a hearty \u201cAMEN\u201d!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This little party came from a \u201chappy place\u201d desire that I randomly blurted out at Thanksgiving when my son asked \u201cMom, what would you like for Christmas?\u201d Out came \u2013 \u201cFor us all to be together sometime before Christmas!\u201d A few days later, my son gave us the dates! Sweet! Heart full of \u201chappy place\u201d thoughts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secret Santa gift exchange was hilarious — trying to guess who gave each one their gift. Then Nana\u2019s \u201cWhite Elephant\u201d exchange (all gifts exchanged were from Santa Nana) at the Galleria Mall Christmas Tree. Nana\u2019s one-and-a-half-hour family photo shoot \u2013 well maybe not such a \u201chappy place\u201d for the grands when we\u2019d say \u201clet\u2019s try one more location\u201d! There are 13 of us to wrangle up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I share these personal highlights today to emphasize \u201chappy place\u201d. You can see that I make it my number one priority to embrace those who are still with me on this side of heaven. I\u2019m running my race with theirs and oh, the comfort and joy it brings me. Do these family members agree on everything? NOT! Do they have the same likes and dislikes when it comes to food or movies or games or sports events? NOT! But they all agree they are in a \u201chappy place\u201d when it comes to celebrating each other and their achievements. They agree that they are here for each other \u2013 no matter what! We all agree that the little issues that try to divide us are nothing compared to what or WHO that unites us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all want to be happy and have places of happiness, but sometimes trying to find happiness can be a challenge. Oftentimes, we search for it in all the wrong places. But, the answer is much simpler. The places, the people, and the sweet times can represent being in a happy place, but far more important is wherever we are and whoever we are with, shouldn\u2019t determine our \u201chappy place\u201d. The Psalmist said this: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15) He also said this: \u201cHappy are those who live pure lives, who follow the LORD\u2019s teachings. Happy are those who keep His rules, who try to obey Him with their whole heart.\u201d (Psalm119:1,2) Our \u201chappy place\u201d is wherever we are when our WHOEVER is God and we listen and heed His wise counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Welcome to MY “happy place”. And, God bless you and yours with Christmas joys in your \u201chappy place\u201d too!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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