If We Want to Be Happy

Stephen Kaczor wrote about a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year he won the award for the best grown corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared the seed with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share the best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year,” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

It’s Christmas and this is true in our lives. Those who want to live meaningful and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

This is the Christmas Story that many miss! It’s not about what you will receive at Christmas, but what you give away to others. This Christmas, seek those in need — give a smile, a hug, a gift  to someone who needs to be lifted up. Remember the farmer said, “If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

If we want to be happy, we must help others!

Matthew 5:3-10 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon