Don’t Worry Be Happy!

“Don’t worry be happy.” Those are the words to Bobby Mcferrin’s popular song from 1988, encouraging us to be happy.

Benjamin Franklin is believed to have said, “The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”  Since the beginning of time man has yearned for, looked for, hoped for happiness.

So what is happiness? We may each find happiness in as many varied and different ways as we, as individuals, are varied and different. However, research shows that no matter who we are- whether we live on an Asian Island, in the Louisiana Bayou, or the African desert-all humans find happiness and joy, by sharing life with loved ones.

And so, this weekend, I experienced true joy with the birth of another grandchild. The scriptures tell us “man are that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi  2:25) I love that! Life is difficult. We all have struggles, trials and hardships. Sometimes, there may seem to be no shortage of problems. And yet, we are meant to be happy! Our Creator, or God, our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. 

This past week I watched my daughter suffer the pains of contractions, sweat through the agony of labor, and rejoice in the giving of life! What joy!

Giving birth is the perfect symbolism for life; that only through the most difficult, even sometimes the going to the very edge of death itself, we are rewarded with the most precious, beautiful gift of love and life and joy. An angel straight from heaven!

That act of complete unselfishness of the mother and the absolutely, amazing instinctiveness of the newborn babe, still slippery and slimy, turning his little head to find his mother’s breast: Giving  - Loving - Life - JOY!

Watching my daughter successfully and courageously give birth to her son - JOY!

Cradling that sweet, innocent, pure baby boy in my arms - JOY!

Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we can choose to be happy. We choose to find joy! Jeffrey R. Holland once said “If you’re missing the joy, you’re missing the point.” Cherish those moments. Find joy! Don’t worry – be happy!