During youth it is easy to idealize one's life, to think about what one wants to win and achieve, without taking into account the defeats and failures. As time goes by, we realize that reality does not always correspond to what is idealized, and above all, it is not synonymous with happiness! We could even conquer the whole world, but if we don't understand God's plan for our brief existence on this earth, there will always be a void within us. As Saint Augustine would say: "You have made us for Yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
So, what can we concretely do to be happy?
We can answer that question, not with mere opinions, but according to the thought of the One who created everything: "The one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed [happy] in what he does” (James 1:25).
According to this verse it is simple to find happiness. The secret lies in the effort to be faithful to the law of the Lord because being happy is a consequence of practicing the Word of God.
Psalm 23 says: "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack ... goodness [happiness] and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life." Let Christ be the Shepherd of your life (cf. Jn 10:11) and you will receive the promise He made: happiness!
How can we know that it really is true? Try it yourself!
You have nothing to lose; in fact, it is a challenge where there are only winners.
--Sr. CMC
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