Finding Happiness in Christ (Series 4)Mfano

## Celebrating you You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 32:19) There is an old story about an unhappy and dissatisfied stonecutter. One day he met a merchant and was fascinated by all the beautiful goods that the merchant was selling. "I wish that I was a merchant," said the stonecutter, and miraculously, his wish was granted. Not long after that, he saw a parade past his little shop. When he saw a prince dressed in all the splendor he had never seen, he said, "I wish I was a prince." And he became a prince. But a few days later, when he went outside, he felt uncomfortable with the hot summer air above his head. "Even a prince cannot be comfortable in the sun," he said. "I wish that I was the sun." This request was granted. This stonecutter was happy to be the sun until a cloud blocked him from the earth one day. "The cloud got in my way," he said. "I wish that I was a cloud." Once again his wish was granted, and he was happy until he met a mountain so high that he could not climb. "This mountain is bigger than me," he said. "I wish that I was a mountain." As a high and mighty mountain, he saw all human activity from above and felt that he was finally happy. But once a stonecutter climbed upon him and cut rock, and there was nothing he could do. "That little man is more powerful than I am," said the mountain. "I wish that I was a stonecutter." So the circle is fulfilled, and now the stonecutter realizes that he can always be happy just being himself. He will never dress like a prince, shine like the sun, or grow tall like a mountain, but he is happy to be himself. One surefire way to have unhappiness is to compare yourself to others. As someone has rightly said, "The grass may look greener across the fence, but it still needs to be mowed." You are who you are, and that deserves to be celebrated! Reflection: We will be the best version ever if we start to be grateful for what we have in our lives today. God did not design everyone the same, but with unique details and different ways of life. Our job is to find the gifts that exist and use them for the special calling of the Author of that life. Thanksgiving is what multiplies joy and makes life great. (Ann Voskamp)