Don't Postpone Joy.

    Enthusiasm makes everything different. You can't control the length of your life, but you can control its width and depth by adding fun and enthusiasm. When you have enthusiasm for life, life has enthusiasm for you. "He that is of merry heart hath a continual feast." (Prov. 15:15, KJV). William Ward said, "Enthusiasm and persistence can make an average person superior; indifference and lethargy can make a superior person average."

    "Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (Thess. 5:15-18, LB). Don't postpone joy. Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God. It’s the echo of God's life within us. Enthusiasm is an inside job.

    A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable, and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school.  She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child.

    Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school. As she did, she saw her little girl walking along. At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. More lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called, "What are you doing?" The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture." Face the storms that come your way with a smile of hope.

    Enthusiasm and pessimism are contagious. How much of each do you spread? You can succeed at almost anything for which you have unlimited enthusiasm. “It’s difficult to remain neutral or indifferent in the presence of a positive thinker” (Denis Waitley).

    One of the single most powerful things you can do to have influence over others is to smile at them. "It's difficult to remain neutral or indifferent in the presence of a positive thinker" (Denis Waitley). You’re never fully dressed until you wear a smile. The best facelift is a smile.  A smile is an asset; a frown a liability. Some people grin and bear it; others smile and change it. "Be like the Mona Lisa.  She keeps smiling when her back's to the wall" (Shelby Friedman).

    "In my experience, the best creative work is never done when one is unhappy" (Albert Einstein). Every success of genius must be the result of enthusiasm. For every opportunity you miss because you're too enthusiastic, you will miss a hundred because you're not enthusiastic enough. I prefer the foolishness of enthusiasm to the indifference of logic.

    If you find yourself dog-tired at night, it may be because you growled all day. Learn to laugh at yourself. A person with a great sense of humor may bore others, but he never has had a dull moment himself. "Of all the things God created, I am often most grateful He created laughter" (Chuck Swindoll). Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.

    You will rarely succeed at anything unless you have fun doing it.

    Live Life Laughing!