True and lasting happiness comes only when we choose to love and serve the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. A year ago, I suffered from depression, but God never left me in the darkness of my life. He made me feel that I was not alone. I found my true happiness and rest all my worries, sadness, hatred, fear and depression in his loving care. His faithfulness and goodness helped me to let go of all the negative things in my life. I learned to embrace all the positive things, I started to smile again, to forgive the people who hurt me, to help others spiritually, to pray and petition not only for myself and my loved ones, but also for others who need prayers, because the more you pray, the more you find happiness and get closer to Jesus. Having the peace and love of God in my heart is true and lasting happiness for me.
— Mylyn D. Cabigona
Prayer brings me joy and comfort. When I have worries and don’t know what to do, or when I feel lost and confused, prayers and a time of heart-to-heart talk with Our Lord is like a soothing balm that brings me back to peace. And when I have inner peace, I have my happiness.
— Teresita F. Dagal
Personally, the true meaning of happiness basically begins with loving myself first. Knowing that I am special and created with a purpose. More so, loving others without expecting anything in return. I have experienced hardships and hurts, but as much as possible I try not to waste the pain and instead use it to help others in my own little way. I have simply turned the bad into a good way to make my life meaningful and fruitful. Ultimately, happiness for me is a choice that I really have to consciously choose to be happy every single day no matter what. Yes, prayer definitely makes me happy! because when I pray, I feel like I am talking to someone who loves me the most.
— Chanda Catig Ejem
For me, the true meaning of happiness is through our prayers and faith to our Almighty God and our Mama Mary. For my 11 years in HK as an overseas worker, I experienced so many trials in life before I came abroad. I sacrificed my family to fulfill the wishes of my two children and to help my husband for financial problems. But suddenly in 2021, God took my husband to heaven and I could not go home because of the pandemic, but through the prayers and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am now stronger and our group in the Church, the Legion of Mary, helped me more in prayers. I feel happy to serve God every Sunday and today my spiritual growth is stronger because of some activities like pilgrimage, retreats in other churches.
— Efrena Gamao Fabricante
Happiness comes from within us in our own unique way. When we learn to accept the pain and all the challenges in life and offer them to God, when we give thanks to him even for simple things and appreciate all the things around us and work with compassion and gratitude, we can feel happiness. We need to embrace ourselves and work to create a secure, meaningful foundation where we love and accept ourselves with all our shortcomings and believe in our own worth. This will create happiness wherever we are.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
— Jenny Moralde Pilliaring
Happiness is equated with the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction. This means that happiness is not to be confused with joy, ecstasy, bliss, or other more intense feelings. Prayer brings happiness. It brings peace to our hearts. It improves mental and physical health and fosters a sense of gratitude, a cornerstone of true happiness.
— Lilibeth Rufin
