Is Jesus Happy?

This story happened about 6 months ago and you may have read my Facebook post about it back then, but it is stories like this that inspired this blog so I am going to expound.

Since my kids were old enough to talk, I have been telling them to "choose to be happy" when they were fussing. Of all of the things I can teach my littles, I want to instill in them that can choose how to act, respond and even feel despite other people's actions or our situation. So much pain and anguish in my life could have been avoided if I really understood how to control my emotions.

When one child starts pouting, I look at them eye to eye and talk them through it. First validating why they feel the way they feel and then asking them what they should do. Sometimes I even sing a little made up song "We get to choose peace, we get to choose joy. No matter what happens we can choose, choose, choose." It sounds totally made up but the kids jam to it like it's Michael Jackson's Beat It. If they refuse to choose to be happy, they are sent to their room until they can choose peace and joy.

Well, back to the story. We were waiting for the puppy shop to open so we could torture ourselves with little furry temptations. While we were waiting, I noticed a Catholic bookstore a few doors down. We went down there to burn the time thinking it would be somewhat similar to Lifeway. Upon entering, I was immediately nervous bc there were so many breakable statues and trinkets on glass shelves. The large statues on floor were as tall as the kids and as serious as a the Bachelorette rose ceremony.

Eli stared at the statues of Mary and Jesus and backed up a little, then I watched as he regained his courage and before I could say anything, he began to scold the statues "you need to choose to be happy!"

I looked around to see the stone cold cashier and turned back to the kids as Charlotte chimed in "yeah, choose peace, choose joy…."

I scurried those kids out of there before I upset all of the Catholic shoppers and when I got outside, couldn't help but laugh!

We always teach them that Jesus is happy! That is why we can choose joy! They didn't recognize a Jesus that wasn't approachable and happy. I pray I can have that kind of faith someday.