“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

Every time my husband and I have been invited into an Amish home for supper, we’ve enjoyed the light banter, joke-telling, and laughter that accompanied the meal. Our dear Amish friends are full of good humor and often look for things to laugh about.
Having grown up in a house where laughter was scarce, I find it very refreshing to be with people who like to laugh and have a good time. In fact, I often look for things to laugh about, knowing that laugher is not only good for me emotionally, but physically as well.
There are times when I might not feel like laughing, but if I remind myself to look around, there’s always something to smile about—a frisky pet, singing birds, flowers in bloom, children at play.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22 that a merry heart is good medicine. Just like the birds who like to sing in my yard, our Amish friends know how to share their joy with others. A joyful heart is truly pleasing to the Lord, and it’s an added benefit to know that it’s good for me, too.
What are some ways you have found to lift your spirits and give yourself a joyful heart?

Before leaving on a recent trip, my husband and I went to lunch with some friends we’ve known for a good many years. As we shared a meal and visited, I was reminded of the importance of friendship. Not only have we spent many hours visiting with these friends over time, but we’ve helped each other during times of need, and lifted one another up in prayer.

Then, more recently, while my husband and I were on our trip, we ran into some of Amish friends from Indiana. Spending the day with them, and sharing a meal, we and had a great time visting these special friends and getting caught up on one another’s lives. That afternoon I shared a prayer request with my Amish friend, and she shared one with me. It’s a comfort and a blessing to know that we have special friends–Amish and English–whom we can count on for support.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:17 that a friend loveth at all times. How thankful I am for all of my friends. Have you done something for one of your friends lately? Has one of them done something special for you?

Having recently visited Hawaii, I was impressed by the Hawaiin culture and the traditions that have been passed from generation to generation. Many of the Hawaiin people are talented artists, making jewelry with beads, shells and various types of seeds. Some do wood carving, and some people make beautiful quilts and wall hangings.

In many ways the Hawaiin people remind me of my Amish friends, whose culture is based on the traditions and values of their forefathers. The Amish are also talented at their crafts, many of which include woodworking and quilt making.

In my own family, we have certain traditions that have been passed down from our parents and grandparents. It is these traditions that have molded and shaped us into who we are. My husband’s heritage is German, and on my mother’s side, I also have a German heritage. One particular tradition for me is making stuffed cabbage rolls, which my mother called “Galoushka”. Whenever I fix stuffed cabbage rolls I think about all the times my mother made it for our family when I was a girl. I also made sure to teach our daughter how to make the cabbage rolls so she could continue with our family tradition.

What traditions do you have in your family? How have those traditions impacted your life?