How to Have a Happy New Year

[166 words] What phrases are you tired of hearing? I asked this question once in a class and was surprised by the number of statements that came from the students. Among those mentioned was the simple wish: “Happy New Year!” I must confess that I love to hear the phrase because it reminds me of the promises of Jesus when he gave us the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Most English Bibles translate these sayings as “blessed is the.” Actually, the translation more accurately should read “happy is the.” Substituting the word, “happy,” for “blessed,” we read –  “Happy are…the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…the persecuted…the insulted….the persecuted.” The world cannot comprehend this. What the world doesn’t understand is, with Jesus, we can be happy even when we are humiliated, mourning, being meek, hungering, etc. because we have Jesus…