Happiness knows the antidotes we need to combat the poisons of negativity, anger, and bitterness. Happiness purges our souls of these poisons before our spirits are left shriveled and dying, unable to respond to the daily miracles of grace that give us life.
Happiness chooses the antidote of Faith so we'll believe that we have so much that is important and beautiful in our lives that there is no reason to succumb to the poison of negativity. Happiness chooses to believe that even if we've never traveled much, Nature is as beautiful in our back yard as it is overseas. That even if we don't own much, what we have is enough to generate precious experiences and memories. Happiness is Faith fertilizing our hearts so they'll bloom with delight whenever we see a child's radiant smile or feel a senior citizen's grasp of our arm in trust or receive a loving letter, email, or Facebook post from a friend.
Happiness chooses to combat the poisonous venom of anger and offense, knowing that rage would devour our inner peace. Happiness chooses the antidote of Wisdom that recognizes that those who offend us are eaten up inside by their own poisonous and restless grievances. Wisdom urges us to receive the anti-venom I.V. of God's in-pouring love for us as our treatment and protection. The anti-venom of God's Love floods our spirits with the truth of our inner beauty and worth so others' poisonous biting words cannot infect us.
Happiness is choosing to use the antidote of Hope and Trust to purge ourselves of the poisonous bitterness that travels into every body system when we lose someone or something precious. Hope and Trust assure us that our loved one is now healed and whole in Heaven, embraced by God and his/her loved ones, free to be totally who he/she is. The antidote of Hope and Trust purges us of bitter depression and reminds us that God allows our lives to unfold as they must for reasons known only to Him, and that everyone's life is a combination of shadow and light, sorrow and joy.
When we choose Happiness, our souls have an arsenal of protection - the antidotes of Faith, Wisdom, Love, Hope and Trust - that keep us healthy and whole, free to enjoy every moment of our lives secure in the Life of God which flows through us. The poisons of negativity, anger, offense, and bitterness are vanquished before they can gain a foothold. We can keep smiling, lit from within by a pure, deep Happiness which will endure.