Happy with Henry

A week in California for Thanksgiving was filled with laughter, dancing, and reading with one of my grandsons. While I got to meet the newest grandson, his older brother Henry and I had an abundant amount of quality time together. 

Henry, who is approaching two, is beginning to string two and three words together, and they are the sweetest sounds to a grandmother’s ears. “More. Milk. Please,” with hesitation between words as he is forming them in his brain and relaying them to his mouth. And with sign language he says “thank you” for the meals that are presented to him or after assistance he receives.  

But the absolute joy that brought tears to my eyes was when he said, “Mama. Happy. Dada. Happy. Moose. Happy.” He will randomly say things that make him happy! His caring mom makes him happy. His playful dad makes him happy. His excited dog makes him happy. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child again is refreshing. 

Coming home after a week of sweetness and snuggles, I felt frustration welling up inside me for upcoming situations in my life. I told God that I don’t want to be frustrated or angry. And it’s as though He repeated Henry’s word to me….happy. So, as I was going around my house on my knee scooter, I began - out loud, in simple words - saying things that made me happy. “Farm. Happy. Children. Happy. Friends. Happy.” 

Jesus also must have been frustrated with situations and adults in his life. Disciples questioned who would be seated beside him in heaven. Others would question why He took so long to come to heal someone. All the “adult” issues they complained about in life had to frustrated Him.  

Jesus was clear in His love and acceptance for children. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:14) Just like those children, we are to embrace our faith and the future in a childlike manner. It’s a simple concept, yet hard to do. 

Even the children in the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! understood this belief. Henry and I read this book, and when we got to the page showing the Whos down in Whoville holding hands with no Christmas decorations in sight, the precious redhead in my lap started swaying and singing. He knew without me getting to the end of the book that Christmas was more than the lights and wreaths on the houses. Even the Grinch finally got the message. 

“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Dr. Seuss

It was the people, the town, the loved ones they were holding hands with that brought them the happiness and the joy of the season. 

As we approach Christmas, it may be hard to find joy in this season. When there is loss or heartache, loneliness or health issues, the adult issues we face can keep us from being grateful for a simple life. What if Christmas is being content with mundane things that afford us an excellent life? The people we hold hands with, those we share meals with, the birth of our Savior - maybe that’s more of what Christmas is all about. 

I challenge you to Be Happy this Christmas season. It’s not easy when we have hard things looming in our future or have had a tough year. But we can take each day as a child, begin by saying the simple things we are happy for in this life. 

We often have to work at being positive. In fact, science tells us that negative things that happen in our life linger with us longer. Dr. Jason N. Linder in Psychology Today states, “Happy, enjoyable, uplifting, and positive experiences - like smiling at your friend’s joke, enjoying a great movie, or laughing with your child….often pass through the brain quickly…but unpleasant experiences, such as feeling unheard by a partner, being stuck in a long line, or being hacked can deeply aggravate, frustrate, or sadden us much longer and intensely than positive moments enliven us. This bias can leave us chronically in a negative frame of mind, and also quite anxious.” 

So, we must remind ourselves - even out loud - that there are wonderful things in our lives that make it joyous. Linder goes on to say, “Although the brain has been powerfully wired to constantly search for and focus on the negative, it is also quite malleable, and we can train it toward the opposite thanks to the brain’s innate plasticity.” 

Let’s continually train our brains to put the positive in the forefront of life. Dwell upon the good things in our lives. Children do not see the ugliness or the heartache this life brings. But Jesus didn’t put an asterisk on this command: "And he said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" - Matthew 18:3

Like Henry and other children who will enjoy Christmas gift boxes just as much as the gift itself, maybe we should focus more intently on the life we've been given rather than the specific trappings that make it difficult and hard.

Let's approach this season with the things that matter - those holding our hands as we pray around the table instead of the mess they left all around our homes. Or let us be thankful for the technology that allows us to share moments with loved ones far away instead of focusing on not being with those we desperately miss. Focus on the good - we may have to search to see some, but it's out there.

I will let Henry's words ring throughout my home this season. When anger or frustration creeps in, I will fight it with a list of things that bring me joy.

May you have a Merry Christmas, and I hope we all take the time to focus on the people and things Jesus has blessed us with that make us "happy'!