Put on a Happy Face

Monday was a ‘Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day’ for Alexander and me! I didn’t feel well, and I was mad at the entire world because it was stormy and raining again. I forced myself to do the daily events of my morning routine but was grumbling the whole time. I always find it curious when my devotions call me out. Yesterday, I was reading a devotion that started out this way … “Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, EVEN THE WEATHER, since I am the author of your circumstances.”  That’s all I had been doing was complaining! 100% complaining … without ceasing!

 “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and Be Glad in it” (Ps.118: 24). I didn’t feel too much like rejoicing in this day! It certainly didn’t feel much like a “Be Glad Day!” I wish I could say the rest of the day was lovely but it was not. I did, however, keep pushing through the darkness trying to make something worthwhile of the day, until I finally went to bed with yet another ice pack headache at 8:00 pm to ride out the rest of the storm.

 I realize every time I focus on the darkness, my life becomes dark and I literally can’t see all that God has done for me … the substance that is so much bigger than today. When I look at Jesus, my light and my salvation, I am transformed and the light of His presence pours into me. Stormy or sunny, I never am without the Light of the world. I am praying to be reminded of that even when the sun’s not shining outside. I want to choose to daily give thanks in all situations and be faithful, knowing that, this too will pass. Listen to this profound statement I read yesterday: “To find joy within this day, you must live within its boundaries. God knows we can only handle one day at a time! Don’t worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant life in God’s presence today.”   I John 1:7- “ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Guess what? This morning, I looked at the weather app and then out the window and it was blue skies and sunshine in Elizabethtown, Kentucky for the next 6 days! I’m rejoicing right here in all things, but especially for the sunshine today. I’m putting on my sneakers; shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt, sans jacket and am headed outside to, quite literally, “Soak it in honey.” I already put on my happy face!

Have a sunshiny day and don’t forget to thank God in all things!

 Just Jesus, 

Sheri Langley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put On A Happy Face

Gray skies are gonna clear up

Put on a happy face

Brush off the clouds and cheer up

Put on a happy face

Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy

It’s not your style

You’ll look so good that you’ll be glad

You decided to smile

Pick out a pleasant outlook

Stick out that noble chin

Wipe off that full-of-doubt look

Slap on a happy grin

And spread sunshine all over the place

And put on a happy face

And if you’re feeling cross and bitterish

Don’t sit and whine

Think of banana splits and licorice

And you’ll feel fine

I know a girl so gloomy

She never laughs or sings

She wouldn’t listen to me

Now she’s a mean old thing

So spread sunshine all over the place

And put on a happy, happy face

Put on a happy, happy, happy face.

Songwriters

LEE ADAMS, CHARLES STROUSE