Essential Happiness

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon

Valentine's day is almost upon us.  It is my least favorite of all holidays.  The world explodes with candy hearts, but instead of love in the air, I think there is only money.  I'm a happily married woman with over 20 years of marriage, and as romantic as the next gal.  I think that is exactly WHY I don't like Valentine's day.  It is a time that people talk excessively about something they exhibit negligibly.  

It did begin as a holiday of faith, celebrating St. Valentine.  But the story isn't cute enough to put on a candy heart.  Read more here.  Even so, I certainly find myself thinking more about the love of God than love songs this time of year.  

Which is why I like to reflect on Robert Heinlein's definition of love from Stranger in a Strange Land.  "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."  Occasionally, we may think about how avoid God's wrath.  Valentine's Day is a good time to think about what we could do to make God happy.

What does the Bible say makes God happy?

Psalm 147:10-11-Those who wait for his loving-kindness
Proverbs 11:1- Justice in business
Proverbs 12:22- Those who deal faithfully
Jeremiah 9:24- loving kindness, justice and righteousness
Matthew 3:17- Jesus
1 Samuel 15:22- obedience

This Valenine's Day, skip the chocolate and give God what will make Him happy.  That's how we love Him.​