I was just thinking today about my
decision to be happy.
My husband had passed away and I
was determined that I would be one of those widows who always wore black and
had the air of dignified, brokenhearted sadness about her.
Really, I was never going to smile
again. Then the Big Guy would know just how much I loved him and missed him. So would
the world.
Ahhh… how noble it would be to go
through life and never again experience joy because of my loss.
A plastic grocery bag blew across
the street in front of me and I started crying. It was pretty pathetic.
Then one day, I caught myself
smiling and laughing at something.
I cried all over again, because
really, was I supposed to be happy?
I decided then that this sad life was
not the life I wanted. I didn't want to be a martyr. I wanted joy again. I
wanted my kids to see me laughing. I wanted them to be happy.
And so I decided to be happy.
It wasn't an automatic switch.
It still took time.
I still cried when I answered the
phone and someone asked for my husband.
I still cried at night when I said my prayers.
But the decision was there and
happiness followed.
I am so glad that I made that
decision. My big guy would have wanted me happy.
