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By Betsy Ore Glass

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24 

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Is it with joy to see how the day unfolds or is it with dread because of the to-do list that is waiting for you? I admit, it is easy to be happy when things are going well, but the first sign of difficulty and dread can weigh us down and want us to pull up the covers. We have all met that incredibly happy person that is consistently joyful and we marvel at how they do it. What is their secret, we wonder. Is their life that great? Really? So many of us wear our feelings and emotions for all to see as we become negative. Our body language, our countenance and attitude are all affected. We kid no one. It is as though we wish to make everyone else as unhappy as we are at that moment!!  This is not God’s way.

Getting back to that happy person … how can we live like that too? First we think we have to land that big job, or lose that weight, or buy that bigger house or have more money. It is easy to think that everything will be better and we will be happy when something happens. We are all guilty of this. Truth is, happiness is a choice. It is a decision. We can have it right now. No one should be able to take our happiness from us, yet we allow it without realizing it. The alarm not going off, heavy traffic to work causing us to be late, procrastinating kids and a grumpy spouse are all excuses. These things cannot take our joy unless we let it. I look at a small child and see genuine happiness in their face. They giggle with glee and laugh rises up from their toes! We could learn a lot from the little ones. Draw a line in the sand today. Choose for yourself to be happy regardless of where you are in your circumstances. This season upon us encourages gratitude. Be glad for all things and let God know it. Every gift is from Him. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Betsy Ore Glass has long-standing ties to the Outer Banks. From Virginia Beach, her family bought a vacation cottage in the 60s and her love of the area began. Later in the 90s, Betsy and her husband bought a weekend cottage and introduced the area to their children. Then Betsy’s parents retired to KDH where the family gathered often. Reach her at betsyglass1@gmail.com. To learn more about her new book, Reflections by the Sea, visit betsyoreglass.com.

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