"My mom had 5 children, a stay at home mom in UK. I remember we had no running water, no w machine, no in door toilet, no vacuum but I can not remember our house being a mess, everything was in order, I use to wash clothes by hand, sweep carpet with a stiff brush, no refrigerator, my mom did not do everything because my dad made us all help. My mom at 83 now still works cleaning a office and her house is still how it was as a child clean and welcoming. Kids today don't know what work is. Did ironing too every bit of clothes we ironed."
Teresa Hulme: "I could go on and on but did my want to bore you. Lol"
Gwendolyn Wehage said: "Teresa Hulme That does not bore me it blesses me. It helps me remember that there was time when others did and thought just like me. I didn't have those living conditions but we still lived a simple life, busy with everyday things and without a need for adventure to be happy."
Gwendolyn Wehage: "Teresa Hulme My husband asked me to ask you are question. "Were you happy", his guess and mine is that you were happy, everyone contributed and had purpose."
After cogitating on these responses I was struck with the fact that children have far more things, fewer quality relationships, more trips and activities and are less happy than the children from past generations who had far less.
Things, money and adventures never make a person happy, they can be addictions that keep a person dictated to them in order to continually manufacture happiness.
The truly happy person is one who enjoys normal every day duties and creativity so much so that they have no need for manufactured adventures that only serve to make one happy during them, afterwards there is a let down, a need for one more adventure to keep the happiness flowing. The happiness in other words, is based on the adventures and not an inner soul full of joy at just living life.
I think the reason I don't have a bucket list, something that seems to be popular now, is because I am pleased with every day activities, they satisfy me, perhaps it's the joy of the Lord that is always present no matter what the chore or duty.
1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 "…10 And indeed, you are showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more 11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. 12 Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.…"
Proverbs 21:17
"He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich."
I am convinced that the "poor man" here is not merely poor financially but poor spiritually while lacking wisdom. There can be and often is poverty of soul in which the one seeking adventure misses the greater wisdom that comes from working through life.
Pleasure as little value, only momentary excitement that fades the minute the pleasure is finished, then there must be another adventure in the works for the happiness to remain.
Joy is always there it is based on purpose and accomplishments that build character.
While someone is seeking pleasure they are missing the blessing of wisdom that comes from working out problems and challenges.
2 Timothy 3:2
"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,"
2 Timothy 3:4
"treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,"
Luke 8:14
"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity."
The answer to gaining joy is to trust Christ in all things and take pleasure in the things that matter, things that last for eternity, the wisdom that comes from doing our duty and accomplishing His will.
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