If you are like most people I encounter, you spend more time overcoming anger and depression than you do laughing and smiling. That is sad but I don't see it getting any better in the near future, as a matter of fact, as time goes by and the love of people grows colder and colder, I see it getting harder and harder for many people to stay joyful. But, it doesn't have to be that way.

I believe with all of my heart that the reason people do not experience enough joy is because they are trying to possess something they never can.

People think Joy is something they can find instead of something they create. They believe that joy will to come to them through things and outside sources so they book their lives running after those things and outside sources. They get themselves so busy in an attempt to create happiness for themselves and their children that they don't even realize that they are doing just the opposite. Instead of creating a life filled with happiness and joy, they create stress, anger and unhappiness and what is really sad is that they don't even realize it!

People work longer hours and multiple jobs, book their children on every sports team and function they can, enroll them in every after school activity that comes along and on top of that they feel they must also be at every church function, meeting and service. They get used to this kind of lifestyle and honestly think that it is supposed to be this way. They then begin to create a belief that that they can only enjoy their own life after kids are grown and the bills are all paid. How ridiculous is that? Wait until I my body is too old and worn out to enjoy life? I think Not!

The problem with this kind of thinking is the damage that is done by NOT experiencing joy NOW. Wives leave husbands because they are always working, striving for a joyful life rather than enjoying each other right now. Many parents don't enjoy their children or even know what is going on in their minds because they spend all their time trying to find happiness through work. There are even countless children who do not enjoy their life because their parents book every minute of their day for them. Instead of having parent child talks and moments of sharing and laughing, the children find the parents yelling for them to get ready for the next event, game or practice that they are having to run off to.

When was the last time you sat back at the end of the day and said: I really enjoyed today?

When was the last time you laughed, I mean really laughed? I imagine most of you cannot even remember and that is what I am talking about.

Proverbs 17:22 tells us that A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Do you know why so many people are sick, so many people are depressed, so many families fall apart? That's right because they lack joy in their lives!

I laughed my head off yesterday and again today. Do you know how? I listened to a baby laugh. That's right, it didn't cost me a dime, just 2 minutes of my time.

Do you need a laugh? Copy and paste this website in your browser: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=439462940150261763&q=baby+laughing&hl=en

Then come back to this page and read some more.

Go ahead and tell me you didn't laugh, I dare you. If you didn't laugh out loud, you need to seek some professional help and I mean it. Tell me you didn't forget your problems for just 2 minutes, tell me your aches and pains didn't subside just a little bit. That is what joy and laughter does, that is good medicine.

Folks, you need to slow down a bit, stop booking yourself silly with so much to do. Enjoy life NOW, enjoy your children, enjoy your spouse and your friends, enjoy your church and especially enjoy your relationship with God.

It may mean getting rid of some things on your plate. Do it. Trust me the world is not going to stop because you don't do a hundred things in a week.

Stop booking your children so much too! They need time to exercise their own creative thoughts and you don't allow that when you book every minute of their day. I promise you, it is better for both of you if you find something they really love to do and are good at and stick with that than have them do 3 or 4 things that they are average in. Let them quit the things they are not interested in, Don't worry about them becoming quitters either. Haven't you ever tried something and realized it wasn't for you? If you don't try it how will you know whether or not you like it or are good at it? That is all a part of life and don't force them just because you spent a couple of dollars on that tutu, baseball glove or clarinet. How much did you spend on that treadmill you hang your clothes on or those other "hobbies" you sold at the last garage sale?

Take time for a sunset, a long walk, a quiet night with a good book or movie. Sit with the kids; laugh and joke around with them. Quit being so serious, play a few harmless practical jokes on them, it may shock them to see mom or dad even has a sense of humor.

People don't quit playing because they get old, they get old because they quit playing.

Enjoy life now, it is the only one you get and you have no idea how long it is going to last.