Your Choice...

I know that I have probably mentioned this a hundred times, but the very first thing that drew me to my future bride was her big smile and happy, encouraging personality.  It is what I saw every day when I looked at the cute, petite girl that sat behind me in my Academic English class during my junior year in high school… and it is the pictures and happy memories of her, that I hold deep to my heart of our 48 years together that still encourages me today!

It is kind of like she was created with a special anointing to be a CHEEERLEADER in life.  Her JOY bubbled forth from her wherever she went.  Her CHEER was especially evident with her place in the dynamics of her family.  She had a different personality than the rest of her family and the longer we were together, the more obvious was her role as the family encourager who influenced with a voice and presence of JOY and CHEER!

Proverbs 15:13 in The Passion Translation of the Bible tells us that,

“A cheerful heart puts a smile on your face, but a broken heart leads to depression.” 

This verse perfectly described the effect that Piper had on most people.  It was very difficult for anyone to keep a smile from forming on their faces when they came into contact with Piper and her CHEERFUL heart.  In later years, as the Alzheimer’s encroached upon her brain and she began to speak less and less, the absence of her inputs of joy became very obvious within the atmosphere of our extended family gatherings.

When the symptoms of the disease began to take precedence in her life, I quickly found myself jumping into the role of her protector… but not just for her physical safety, but also protection from the effects of the emotional, spiritual and mental despondencies that others carried into her presence.

I learned really fast that a CHEERFUL heart is a positive and powerful force in the life of a believer… but on the other hand… that an absence of that CHEER allows the negative powers of a broken heart and depression to fester and grow unchecked in the life of anyone who gives it the freedom to run amok in their lives.

The King James Version of Proverbs 15:13 declares,

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” 

The word ‘sorrow’ comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to worry, to be angry, to displease others or to be grieved” to the point that you “fabricate or fashion your heart in a bad sense.”

The word ‘broken’ is defined as “to be smitten or afflicted” and connotates the idea in this usage as “to drive away” one’s peace, joy and trust in God.  In the original Greek, it is translated as ‘downcast’ meaning to be “rough or rude.”

The writer of this chapter in Proverbs tells us a few verses later that,

“Everything seems to go wrong when you feel weak and depressed. But when you choose to be cheerful, every day will bring you more and more joy and fullness.” (Proverbs 15:15 – TPT) 

It would make sense to me after reading this verse, that if one can choose to be CHEERFUL, then likewise, they can also make the opposite choice to allow themselves to give into feelings of WEAKNESS and/or DEPRESSION... or not!

As potential CHEERLEADERS in the lives of our family and friends, we can help others in need to make the RIGHT CHOICE and not yield themselves to the negative and even debilitating effects that can hitch a ride with WEAKNESS and DEPRESSION.

And let it be known… as I learned first-hand… by giving in to WEAKNESS and DEPRESSION, one not only harms themselves but also carries the stench and potential infection of its effects anywhere they go!  In our situation, that uncomfortable fragrance began to have very noticeable negative consequences with Piper… to the point that it became one of the many deciding factors that caused me to move us to be near our daughter across the country.

I would imagine that you, like me… would NOT want to carry the unwanted and dangerous luggage of WEAKNESS and DEPRESSION into the homes and lives of anyone else!  Therefore, it only makes sense that you and I make the RIGHT DECISIONS every day!  The RIGHT CHOICES to be CHEERFUL… through your ever-increasing trust in the Lord and in the truth of His Word… in the face of the negative and/or stressful situations that arise in our lives!

We may not all be born with the special anointing of CHEERFULNESS that it seemed Piper was… but we can all develop that special trait and positive force in our lives with a lot of practice and consistency each and every day!

I want my memory to bring a smile and warmth into the lives of those who might think about me… as Piper’s memory will always do for me!

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have a blessed and CHEERFUL weekend, continue to EXPECT God’s BEST and then pass His BEST onto others by the touch of your CHEERFUL HEART into their lives!

… and remember: “CHEERFUL IS THE WAY TO BE IN 2023!”