The happiness dilemma...

One of my greatest joys..

as a mommy..

is making my kids happy..

I love the way their eyes light up...

I love how they scrunch their little faces up..

twist them into a smile..

and exclaim..

while jumping up and down..

"You are the best Mommy ever!!"

Which is usually followed by

my legs being hugged so so tight..

I love making my kids happy..

A few weeks ago..

We were at church late..

And they had more sugar in their tiny bodies..

then it is safe for an adult to consume..

And Gibby..

came running to me..

eyes bright..

face full of expectations..

"Mommy, can I have a cookie?Puh-please"

I knew what could make him happy..

I knew in the next second..

I could have a little boy

jumping up and down..

exclaiming my awesomeness..

goofy smile plastered across his face.

It was in my power..

and that very minute..

to make him happy.

I also knew..

eating more sweets..

would make him sick..

Or keep him up..

Eating that cookie was not the wisest choice..

In that moment..

I had the power to make him

either extremely

happy..

or

sad..

I said no to the cookie..

and my heart ached a little

as his crestfallen face

said "Yes, Ma'am."

and ask he walked back and told the person..

"Momma said no."

He would be sad for a moment..

But it was what was best..

Sometimes as a parent..

we exchange momentary happiness..

for what is best.

Often times..

I find myself knowing what will make me happy..

I pray fervently..

knowing if God answers this one prayer..

It would make all the difference..

And then when it doesn't happen..

I feel sad..

I wonder why God wouldn't allow something "good" in my life..

I have a distorted view of God in that moment..

That He doesn't care about my happiness..

That He doesn't delight in me..

But that is wrong..

We have a heavenly Father..

who loves His creation..

Who holds our tears..

Counts the hairs on our heads..

Fearfully and Wonderfully made us..

Who delights in us..

Delights in our happiness..

But also sometimes chooses..

to forfeit momentary happiness..

for what is best.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18