A Happy Heart Makes the Face Cheerful

This morning I stopped to put some gasoline in my car. While at the pump, I heard a woman talking very loud. Her tone told me that she was not cheerful today. Then I was able to hear some of her words as she said something to the effect of “I don’t need this in my day today.” Whatever it was, it already was in her life today, whether she needed it, wanted it, or not. As I pumped my gas I thought to myself, I bet she will let this ruin her entire day and everyone else’s day that comes within 10 feet of her. My heart wanted to go offer a listening ear and a word of encouragement, but her tone and words gave me the impression that she didn’t want any advise from anyone, that she was angry and wanted everyone to hear about it.

About 20 minutes later I sat down to read my daily morning devotion. The devotion this morning was Proverbs 15:13-16 ~n
13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, n but heartache crushes the spirit. n
14 The disce
ing heart seeks knowledge, n but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. n
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, n but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. n
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD n than great wealth with turmoil.

This woman at the gas station definitely had heartache, her spirit was crushed, and she did not have a cheerful face. She had the mouth of a fool feeding on folly. I looked up the definition of folly and it is the state of being foolish. She was oppressed, wretched, and had great turmoil. Granted, we’ve all been at that state at some time or another, right? Right.

What about today? Will you chose to be like the lady I saw at the gas station this morning, or will you chose to be the opposite? Will you show a happy heart and a cheerful face? Will you show disce
ment (good understanding and judgment)? Will you have a cheerful heart and a continual feast?

“Better a little with the fear of the Lord than a great wealth with turmoil.”

Which will you chose to project today?