by Janice Surlin
Happiness grows deep within you and me,
From seeds God has planted to bloom naturally—
Our good thoughts and actions I know are the way
To nourish these happiness seeds every day;
It’s not what I buy, what I own it can’t be,
For in no time at all the seeds wither, I see—
But the more that I give of myself, it is true,
The more happiness seeds I feel blossoming too;
Exploring great thoughts with a teacher or book,
Sharing good music or something I cook—
These make me happy and make my heart sing,
And yet there is more, such as this wondrous thing:
The beauty of nature, God’s Art Gallery,
His Glorious Canvas stirs something in me—
With His Divine Essence, in one Cosmic Stroke,
His Masterpiece fashioned when Mankind awoke;
The Sun in the morning so golden and bright,
Embracing the Earth with its life-giving light;
The Moon glowing softly on dark seas and land,
As the glimmering stars mirror each grain of sand;
Brown sturdy trees sprouting green fragile leaves,
Broad fertile fields yielding amber wheat sheaves,
The billowing clouds soaring in azure skies—
A feast for my happiness seeds and my eyes;
As each God-sown seed grows and bursts open wide,
I feel happiness swelling to joy deep inside—
And with all that I’m able to do and to see,
I am grateful to God and so happy in me!
