Lessons from Mr. Happy

Emery has just begun to discover the wonderful world of the Mr. Men books by English author Roger Hargreaves…and I could not be more pleased:).  They might be my favorite series of children books ever.  Each book teaches a simple message, but with a delightfully adroit use of words that tickles the pleasure centers of my quarter-British brain in a way few children’s books can.  I’m sure at this point he is primarily interested in the inflections in my voice and the simple, colorful illustrations.  But he is enjoying them at least enough to have a favorite: Mr. Happy!! 

Isn’t Mr. Happy inspiring? I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy like him, all the time?  However, I realized the other day when reading one of my favorite lines of this book to Emery, that I think I may be morphing into this merry little man in more ways than I might hope… 

“Mr. Happy was fat, and round, and happy!” 

Oh great.  That’s me.

Yes, everything on my body is expanding, and not just my belly.  It’s actually rather intriguing to see where I will accumulate fat next.  (Is it possible for elbows to get fat?  ‘Cause that might be the only part of my body thus unaffected by this pregnancy.)  But what I love about my new, round self is that I am indeed happy.  

Ten years ago, I’m not sure I could claim that whilst carrying 30+pounds on my body.  I love how the longer I experience motherhood, the less I care about the things that just don’t matter, the things the ones who truly love me don’t even see.  Because my sweet husband doesn’t see my saddlebags.  Somehow, he just sees me, his wife who is carrying his child.  And my boys don’t see my puffy cheeks.  They just see their mother’s eyes and hear her words and know she is there whenever they need.  What a liberating feeling love is! Both the love I receive and the love I give put my mental priorities into perspective and help me see what truly matters.

I love Mr. Happy.  I love that he is able to completely transform Mr. Miserable into a happy person simply by bringing him out of his tree hole into the company of other happy people, including his constant, cheerful self.  What a powerful lesson not just about the influence a happy disposition can have on others, but about love.  People who love and people who are loved are happy.  So simple.  So true.

Maybe for my next FHE lesson, I will just read Mr. Happy.  

And this:

“And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.  

And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted.  Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.”

(1 Nephi 8:10-12)

“And the Angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!  Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of me; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.”

(1 Nephi 11:21-23)