I find the quote comparing happiness to a flower interesting.
Flowers are lovely and beautiful and we wait for them, and cherish their short time with us because we know that a flower fades and dies.
Happiness does the same. We are happy when circumstances are right. When others are treating us kindly. When situations prove to our advantage. When nothing is wrong. Happiness can be a great feeling. But it too is short lived, fades and dies. It's seed will eventually bring forth another flower, and the cycle of happy, sad, happy sad repeats itself.
But Joy ... Joy is a different thing.
Joy comes from God.
It is deep, it is everlasting, it is there in good times and bad.
I recently have read many discussions on Happiness vs Joy - and so as this post came together this morning I was glad to see it evolve in this way.
Now . . . how to teach our children not to search for a happiness in life that is fleeting and can only come from other imperfect humans, but instead to seek the deep, satisfying, lasting joy that that comes from the Father and will carry us through eternity.
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