Let’s Look at The Brighter Side of Life

Published by Deborah Negron M.A.
May 24, 2020

A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. [Prov. 17:22.]
Proverbs 15:13 AMPC

“Laughter doeth good like medicine” they say.
It is the elixir for those who carry a heavy burden.

Many people used to go to the bars during happy hour. There they would socialize and interact and get liquor to ease their stress. The sad part is that this became more about drinking than about relaxing.

Others sought to forget their misery by consuming alchohol or other substances that alter the state of the mind and causes a person to feel light and without a care for a moment in time.

For some of us, who do not drink but like to eat sweet, the consumption of sugary foods, cakes, cookies and candy served the same purpose with the side effects of a sugar high that then produced a crash making us weary and uncomfortable. Some gained alot of weight others felt depressed. Still all for the sake of feeling better.

Well the Bible talks about how having a cheerful, a happy heart does good like medicine. Imagine that, the right attitude can change a person’s whole take on life.

My dad is undergoing one of the most difficult times of his life. He has cancer. Stage 4 Renal Carcinoma. It is a painful state when your body is riddled with cancer. Yet in the midst of this circumstance we have learned what the Apostle Paul called, “How to be content.”

Don’t get us wrong, we are not just passing the time waiting around for the inevitable to come. We are people of faith. We believe that God uses these hard moments to teach us all lessons about life and this privilege we have to be a family. We have been experiencing some tough days. Days when little sleep is had and strength is really given to us by the Lord. But it is an attitude of gratitude that enables all of us to be able to go through each day. We find moments when we just have to look at the brighter side of things.
That’s where my mom comes in. She asked my father questions to cause him to remember things of their lives together. Sometimes she tells the whole story of a particular moment in which they shared a blessing or a funny moment or some anecdote that causes us to, if for a few moments, smile and feel light.

She plans his meals, reads him the Bible. Sings to him songs of praise to God. At other times she comes out singing some old folk song from Puerto Rico or some funny phrase. Daddy smiles. He laughs and then he jokes too.

If you know my dad, you know he is a very humorous man. He was a preacher and had a way with words. He could teach you a lesson all while making you smile.

I observe, Mom starts reading a Psalm or some other chapter in the Bible. She will then start saying it in some way that is wrong. Dad looks at her, he says, what? Then, she will read it again and not finish the line. Then you see dad, he is alert and listening carefully. He is then coaxed to finish the prase or line. Mom is such a wise woman. She activates his ability to think, to reason, to remember and to perform.
That is this thing we call, love.
Some go to school to study psychology, like me. While others, have become experts of the practice of being in a commited relationship.
Some learn from reading and by deduction. Mom has lived every up and down every trial and every triumph loving her man.

This is something one cannot learn in a textbook. No teacher can teach you these amazing lessons. But being here with them is such an honor. I would have never chosen this. I never felt worthy enough to have been the one to take this role. Yet God, in his mercy, has given me the opportunity to learn and glean from them. Their love is simply amazing.

So, back to laughter and a happy heart. Well, my Abi has also been privy to these moments. Together, we have learned to value life and every aspect of it. The hard moments, when we cry, are as precious as the ones when, we all get together in the room and laugh at some story or some show.

Abi has learned what makes her Grandpa happy. She walks in to their room and says, “Hey Grandpa, quieres ver un poquito de Honeymooners? Oh quieres ver una pelicula conmigo?”
“Grandpa, do you want to watch a little Honeymooners or do you want to watch a movie with me?”

She speaks to him in Spanish (another plus for us). She then will cast from her Laptop, the episodes that my Daddy, so loves to watch, on to his television.
At other times she sits there with him and asks him how he is feeling, what he would like to do and things like this.

We have learned how to make daddy comfortable, how to put him first. We have learned how to value each word and each thing my parents say. We have learned how demanding my dad can be. We have also learned how he cares for mom, asking her is she, is okay. We have also learned how strong my mom can be as well. Even when she is hurting and tired, she goes above and beyond to serve his needs.
Together they really are the perfect pair. One for the other.

We have seen how each day, Mom finds ways to make Daddy laugh. We have seen how dad can make her laugh like no one else. He is a funny man.

It is wonderful. It is truly a privilege I never saw coming. One ai will cherish forever. Life is too short to focus on the gloom and doom. We need to cherish those around us.

We need to Live, Love and Laugh.

Last night, as we were eating leftovers with the added collard greens I made. Mom was sitting at the table with me, We called Abi to come eat. Immediately, she said, I don’t want that green stuff. We chuckled and called her again. She hates collard greens.
Anyhow, we were sitting and eating. She walked to the table with this face. For some reason we just started laughing. Eloina Diana was on the messenger app, chatting with us on the phone. Abi Natalia walks in with her COLORFUL FACE. We laughed, Mom said, “Wow, those look like the colors of some national flag from Somewhere, Mexico, I think.”
We all laughed. We had a moment of that light, happy feeling that having a good attitude can bring.

So today, I pray in the midst of whatever life is throwing at you, make sure to find a moment to laugh. A moment to share joy and a moment to thank God for life. All of it is a privilege. We are not exempt of going through the issues of life. But we can choose to havea good attitude. It will change our perspective and our outcomes too. 🥰♥️🙏😊😘🎊🎂⚘🎶💛

As we share our days with Mom and Dad, we have learned so much from them both. She is such a wise lady. She loves her man. He is such a loving man and knows the secret of how to make life beautiful.

Today, Look for the Lighter side of things. Find a way to make someone smile today.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12

I know for me, this is something I have yet to learn more of. 😊