Last Updated on January 9, 2019
Have you ever noticed that most of the messaging women receive from media is infused with the notion that at every moment of every day, you are meant to be happy? That’s a pretty tall order to fill. Every moment, every day — happy.
I find that concept has filtered down to our children, as well; if one of my teens tells me he or she had a bad day, I make it a point to ask just why the day was dubbed “bad,” and more often than not, it’s because of a single incident. However, I need them to understand that one big bummer does not a bad day make.
Marketers enjoy convincing us of our unhappy state because the next line out of their slogan illuminates the glorious fact that purchasing their offered product will make us happy and then our day will be a good one.
Since when is “stuff” the thing of happiness?
I think moms need to be ever vigilant to point out to our children that daily happiness is not dependent upon our own personal needs and desires being met.
Children who grow up thinking that way will be hit with disappointment when things don’t go their way. And based on the world’s messaging, they will go get a new video game, a cheeseburger, a car, or a new nose … to reach the well-deserved state of happiness they have been taught to expect.
How about we teach our children to be content in all circumstances … rather than happy when everything goes their own way?
[verse reference=”Philippians 4:11-13″]I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. {The Message}[/verse]
