Are You Happy? (clap clap *giggle)

July 3, 2009

“Sweetie, I need a few things from the grocery store. Let’s stop there after the eye exam.” I suggested to my husband.

With my daughter’s exam complete and glasses ordered, we headed to Dairy Queen. After ordering a cold Banana Split Blizzard, my teen daughter, headed for the car to wait while we I walked toward the grocery store.

Suddenly it dawned on me that the parking lot was a zoo and that’s the precise moment I .said, “Are we nuts? It’s the day before the Fourth of July holiday. Everyone in town is here. It may take an hour to buy the five items we need.”

He looked at me, “Do we have anywhere else we need to be?” such is the sarcastic response from the unemployed. *grin*

We headed inside.

People were everywhere. Thank goodness I didn’t need to wheel a cart around. I would have been caught in a traffic jam more dreadful than L.A. freeways at rush hour. We grabbed our five items plus ice cream for the man, fat-free to be exact, and made our way around the road-blocks of parked carts to the front of the store.

Behold, what a sight! Every, single checkout line was open for customers. Grocery clerks were stationed behind each one frantically pushing through cases of soda, boxes of hot dogs, pounds of potato salad, mountains of chips, watermelon and all things American. The baggers in the assembly were hardly able to keep the pace.

I stood and watched. Completely fascinated. Customers waited, five deep, in each of the 14 checkout counters. As I stood among the throngs the most amazing thing happened. An older man stepped in the line next to us. He had a cart and he held the hand of a young man who looked to be in his late teens. As I watched the unusual pair, the boy began to bellow some undistinguishable gibberish.

Patrons and clerks all turned to look. You couldn’t help it. The sound was so strange and loud your instinct kicked in and you look to see if everything is alright. After observing that the boy was impaired and unsupervised but also okay, most of the customers turned back to the business at hand. I noticed most of us then shuffled in place a tad bit uncomfortable with the unexpected distraction. Dad had walked away and the tall boy was yelling at the top of his lungs things such as, “I waaaant toooo swwwiiim.” Each word elongated as he spoke.

I looked at the customer’s in front of me. A Mom, with her two older teen boys rushed to finish up a purchase of at least a ten cases of soda. They looked tense because of the noise. The checker shot the customer a stiff grin.

Now here’s the miracle.

The boy who was still waiting for his Dad to returne with the chips began to sing.

Loudly.

“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.”

Guess what? I heard, CLAP – CLAP. The two kids at the end of my grocery line were smiling and were the clappees. Say what? No way… teenagers…. I wanted to hug them. The boy continued singing.

“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands” (clap, clap)

Twenty people clapped. All around us. I was grinning ear-to-ear and looking around.
Everyone in my line was grinning and they were looking around too. The clerk was smiling. The customer’s three lanes down were all a grins. My hands were full but I wanted to clap too.

“If you’re happy and you know it, then your face with surely show it, if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.”

The entire front of the store clapped, in unison! (CLAP-CLAP)

The store erupted with laughter and merriment. Pearly whites were beaming from our faces. The clerk in front of me was laughing out loud. She rushed over to the boy and said, “Thank you, you made us all happy,” and she clapped again.

Tears of joy brimmed. I wanted to laugh and sob and clap and giggle, all at the same time. The rushing of the store ceased. People were smiling, laughing and talking to one another. The store was transformed by a boy who was unashamed and unaware of his social faux pas. A boy that was happy.

I looked around. The thought came to my mind; I want to be just like that boy. I want to be a woman that is unashamed and uninhibited to share the source of authentic joy and happiness, the living truth of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

So, today, and each day from this day forward, I am committed to pray like this:

Lord, I know you have one person today who needs to be cheered and encouraged by your love and your grace. Someone needs hope. Someone needs a little joy.
Please prepare me for this daily appointment to be Your ambassador of joy. Each day help me to recognize the person you send and as always fill me with Your words. I want to share the hope and joy I have received through Jesus Christ. In your precious and joyful name, Amen.

We have so much! We have Jesus. Be blessed and be happy, Lynn

Find me daily at

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