MAYBE IT'S TIME TO LAUGH AGAIN - (A repost from long ago)

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This is an old post in the blog from long ago but I'm bringing it here because somebody has to see this.  I do, too.
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Maybe it’s time to laugh again I heard someone say. I think he is right. It is indeed time to look at life from a perspective other than today’s traffic report or the evening news. It is time to give the child within us permission to look at life and laugh again. It is time we realize that life was meant to be enjoyed, not endured.
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Remember how we once were when we were children? When everything we saw was fun and funny? And every new experience was a great adventure? That nobody could hurt us bad enough to make us want to sulk and mope all day? We’d snap out of it just as quickly as we finished off our fries. That we’d crouch on our knees to peer at a caterpillar in the bush? That an iced bar in hand had every friend’s tongue licking on it, too? Such generous and open hearts we had. Such thirst for wonder and adventure. Where did that all go now? When did everything get so serious? It’s simple. At some point between that age of childhood and right now-- we lost it, because life has become a race to be responsible adults. I won’t argue that because how else can we cope with life if we can’t be responsible living it. But who says becoming a responsible adult means a long face and a boringly serious attitude toward life?
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True those tough times are upon us. The issues we all face are both serious and real. And in the world of reality, not everything is funny so most people would say. Are they saying then that we have no business laughing and enjoying life? And in the course of living a responsible life, we should sacrifice the ability to laugh and junk the gift of joy and look glum because we’re adults? I hope they don’t teach that in the classrooms or we will be having a planet of zombies.
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So how about we try it differently this time and put the smile back on our faces. It’s time to laugh again. Even the Lord loves a cheerful heart. Let’s take back what we have lost. See the world through childlike eyes with a mind always seeking new wonders and adventure, a heart always trusting and believing. Let’s learn to enjoy once more a beautiful sunrise, the innocence and laughter of our children, the myriad colors of a rainbow, the pleasures of our friendships, the fun of surprises, and the assuring warmth and love of our families. Let’s get back the ability to seek out the good and too pluck out the hidden pearls of joy sprinkled down the road of our life in this crazy world. Let us once more learn to delight in these simple pleasures and so make ourselves a lovely day each day of our lives from now on.
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So how about it? :-)

THE CHILD JESSUS -- SHOWS US TO COME TO GOD LIKE A CHILD IN OUR INNOCENCE TRUST AND FAITH

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Today is the Feast of the Sto. Nino, the Child Jesus.
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A friend once had asked .... "why do you pray to the Sto. Nino?"
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Why not?!
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Allow me my thoughts, if you please......
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A child in its pure innocence is empty of guile (sly or cunning intelligence), of machinations (a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end), or of selfish motive - the kind we as adults so often engage in.
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A child sees the world as it is......... people as they are....... and understand things in its stark simplicity and reason. He can easily see through masks, pretense, cover, make-believe, false designs. Good is good, bad is bad, and anything else in-between must have an explanation. (To this, parents must guide them in their enlightenment.)
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The Child Jesus looks up to his mother and father with absolute trust and faith. He sees and knows how they live their lives in the home and outside of it ----- he sees them both go through the cares and woes of their day to day lives ----- he sees both their laughter and their tears, their struggles and successes..... he watches them work with their hands in the many tasks of the day unmindful of the heaviness of the task or of the lateness of the hour ----- he is familiar with their hopes and dreams for him- their family-and their home ----- he watches at the many selfless sacrifices his parents do for his sake ----- he knows about a mother's heart..... bout a father's heart. He basks in that constant tender love, care, concern, and protection.
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So when he hears a tiny earnest prayer offered in faith and trust to him in the same areas of concern of human existence........ he nods his head and says ----- "I know. I understand." ---- And blessings follow way beyond measure. Because he understands.
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I should know; I have been blessed by the Holy Child far more than my weary heart can hold. He understands me more than I understand myself in my misery, disappointment, failed hopes and dreams. He helps me see life with fresh new eyes..... as from the eyes of a child... trusting, believing, rejoicing .... once more and happily.
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In the homily at mass today was read....
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Matthew 19:14 New International Version (NIV)
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14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
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I am a child in the presence of my Lord. I am a child in the presence of the Sto. Nino.
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May you all be blessed by the understanding heart of the Sto. Nino... way, way beyond measure.

BE OF GOOD JOY

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It's a hot hot Saturday evening, but something's on my mind.

This.....  Be Of Good Joy.

'Be of good joy' --That must be hard to understand when your troubles are up to here. When anywhere you turn trouble just stares you in the face.  I'm not going to say ... ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’... but I said it anyway. Nope, we’re not going there this time.

Trouble as often we have been told is heaped on everybody's plate. None spared.. that's a fact. It comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, persuasion, cause or reason, and at odd times when we need it the least. Its timing is always off.

So one unhappy friend once asked ... 'How in heaven's name can anyone take on a Pollyanna song when pricked from all sides by trouble's darts, pins, and needles?' And further added... 'You can sing your voice out with ... 'the sun will come out tomorrow.....' but that isn't going to make you feel any better.  Because you'd be down there groveling on the ground beating your brains out over your miserable lot which that sweet Pollyanna positivity can't even help.' 

He must have seen the movie too. Apparently the merits of that wonderful movie seem to have been lost on him.

I adored the movie. Children are wonderful... innocent, trusting, believing, positive, full of wonder and awe ... the world to them is simply one big playground. And if perchance they stumble and fall and scrape their elbow or knee, all they ever do is get up pronto, shake themselves, and get playing once again. Oh sometimes they would cry being hurt but it's just for awhile.Then you'll see them running about again with a huge smile and a happy glow on their ecstatic faces.

I have a question though ..... Is that so hard for (us) adults to do too? To stand up each time we fall? To rise with an even much bigger resolve to do better given a fresh new start? To choose to be happy? To focus on our blessings more? Because honestly, our blessings are far more than our troubles. The reasons are so many to be of good joy! Being alive is one reason..... with still so much more.

Childlike joy is but the precious confidence of knowing there is a blessing or good in the midst of trouble or strife. It's to have learned that life is a mix of both the good and the bad ... to understand that our response to one or the other will certainly define the life we live... to believe that Someone up there keeps watch over us.

So how about counting blessings instead of tears ...or fears. Be of good joy. 

 

May God bless you and your loved ones with everything good.