Do You Want to be Happy?

When I was a kid, there was this song my mom would sing with us.  It's been running through my head for the past five days.  But it's cute and catchy, and has a great message.  It's down at the bottom if you'd like to see it. and you can click on the title to hear it.  But the gist of it is, if you want to be happy, find something you can do to help someone else.  It doesn't have to be a big deal, even the little things matter.  Here's a way to be happy that will really help someone, and won't cost you more than a minute out of your own life.  

So, do you want to be happy?  Do you?  Really??

 

Let me introduce you to someone who is happy.  Brigid is a young friend of mine.  I "met" her and her mom about 18 months ago through a mutual friend.  Her mom, Allison, has a blog called "Confessions of an Unintended Sherpa" and blogs about the world of the medically fragile.  She knows a lot about it, because, yes, Brigid is fragile.  Brigid is a beautiful little girl with a mitochondrial disorder.

What's mito- whatever??  Your mitochondria are tiny compartments in your cells.  They generate more than 90% of the energy your body needs to sustain and support your life.  But Brigid's mitochondria aren't happy.  And they cause significant challenges for her.  But her diagnosis is not all there is to her.

She is a beautiful, almost seven-year-old little girl with a lot of spunk and courage.  In her nearly seven years, she has endured more than most adults, but she keeps trying.  She has suffered strokes, and learned to walk again.  She has survived DIC, a disease very few people make it through but has learned to dress herself.  She has spent the first day of school for the past three years, NOT in school, but back in the hospital.  She recently got her first bike and has been so excited to learn to ride (thanks Dad!), a HUGE accomplishment.  She "helps" Mom in the kitchen and loves being with her older brother, Reggie.

Brigid has the brightest eyes and the cutest, curly red hair.  I love to see her smile.  Right now, she's in the hospital, where she's been since just before school started, again.  And she's not going to be headed home anytime soon.  See, this time around, she's got a fungal infection in her blood.  I don't understand a lot about it, but I know the blood travels throughout the body, which means the fungus can, too.  And apparently, this is a really nasty strain that only responds to one kind of medicine.  No problem, right?  Well, except for the small issue that her heart and blood pressure really DON'T like that medicine, at all!  And not only is Brigid in the hospital, she is a hospital over two and a half hours from home, and she'll be there for at least another six weeks, until treatment is done.  

Regardless of what her cells are doing, she's a six year old little girl.  Treatment is going as well as can be expected, except she's stuck, in the hospital, with Mom but without Dad and Reggie.  And guess, what?  Boredom is setting in.  I mean, really, would you want to be there, for six long weeks?  

So, here's what you can do.  It's really so simple.  Brigid LOVES to get mail.  It's a real highlight for her.  And her hospital has a free e-card program.  You can follow this link and pick a cute picture.  Write her a little note to cheer her up.  Don't worry about finding the perfect words.  It's okay.  Just let her (and her mom!) know they're being thought of.  You'll need her name, room number, and hospital, so here it is:  Brigid Kidd, room B6-118, and Children's Hospital.     Or, if you'd really like to do something neat, send her something directly.  The hospital address is:

Children's Hospital of Western Ontario

Rm. B6-118

800 Commissioners Rd East

London ON N6A5W9

See, isn't that easy?  You can make her day with just ten seconds of effort on your part.  And that'll make you happy, too.  So spread some sunshine.  Can we make this go around the world?  Please share this post with your family, friends, anyone.  And don't plan to do it "next time" you're on the computer. This doesn't cost you anything, and you have the chance to be part of something great.  So send a smile, a hug, and some love.

Brigid looking at rainbow out her hospital window last week.

Do You Want to be Happy?

Do you want to be happy?

Do you want to be joyful?

Do you want to feel gladness in your heart?

There's a way to feel happy.

There's a way to feel joyful.

There's a way to feel glad if you will start and...

Do something nice for somebody else.

That's what Jesus did.

Don't be afraid, it won't hurt you to try it.

Do something nice for somebody else.

That's the way to live happy, joyful, gladly.

It doesn't have to be something grand.

Something small will do.

Surely you know someone who has a need, so

Do something nice for somebody.

Jesus taught us to love everyone, 

All the while to serve everyone,

Make them smile.

Will you

Do something nice for somebody else,

Do something nice for somebody else,

Do something nice for somebody else?