"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof; if we pursue the path that leads to it; this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God." -Joseph Smith Jr.
Last Sunday our RS counselor, Jayna, taught a lesson about happiness, including ways to be happy. So, yesterday I awoke thinking, Am I Happy? What is Happiness?
My prayer that morning was for something interesting to do (not dangerous), and ways we could help others.
The day was about as gorgeous a day as you can find in early February. The sun shined all day and the temperature was in the low 50s. We drove our relatives to the Portland airport and set out to do some errands. We stopped at a fairly new liquidator-type store. After browsing through the aisles of sweatshirts, paper goods, grooming supplies, and groceries, on our way out to the car with our purchases, we noticed some boxes of apples stacked near the doorway. They smelled wonderful. They were choice Washington State Fuji apples, as crisp as the day they were picked. So, we purchased a box for the unbelievably low price of $3.99. The box was huge. We didn't need so many for ourselves so we started thinking of people we could give some to.
Merle took a half-dozen to his friend Ed. Ed gave him several old inner-tubes he needed for a Cub Scout snow adventure. Then we gave a sackfull to a woman and her grandmother whom he home teaches. We called our daughters-in-law who each got a dozen, and we called a sister-in-law who wants a half-a-dozen. We estimated that the box held about 88 normal-size apples when full, and at this point it was down to about 44. Seeing all those smiles made us feel great!
We decided to share some with our neighbors. One had picked up our mail while we were gone for a week, and another had loaned us a weed sprayer. Random thoughts of kindness seem to be catching. Our whole neighborhood could be made happy by a few apples. Next Sunday, Jayna will also be a recipient of some apples. I've heard the saying, "What goes around, comes around." This is her turn. In fact, maybe we'll go buy another box and spread some more happiness.
