#3@DOVE Philosophy of Happiness
Don’t get unnerved by hardship. It is not a threat, but a modified gift which helps us to find ourselves. Most of the time, it’s the toughest period in our life that we really get to know our real selves. We get to know our weaknesses and of course developing a strong character while going through these dismal moments. Hardship shapes us into a better person from every aspect besides giving us life lessons that benefit us which money can’t buy.
Related Biblical Verse:
Romans 5: 3- 5- Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us into shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Life Example:
Gabrielle Giffords, a retired American politician.
Gabrielle Giffords is a significant US political figure. She used to be the Democratic member of the US House of Representatives. She was the third woman in Arizona’s history to be elected to the US Congress. Besides being the CEO of El Campo Tire warehouses, she also worked as an associate for regional economic development in New York City.
Despite the life success that she achieved, a gunshot incident which happened on 8th January 2011 has literally turned her life upside down. She was being shot right on her head in an attempted assassination near Tucson, at a supermarket where she was meeting publicly with constituent. Her critical brain injury brought bad repercussion on her. She lost her ability to walk, speak, read and write in a short while.
At that moment, she seemingly came to the end of her life.Nevertheless, her optimism and her husband, Mark E. Kelly’s companionship managed to lead her out of this darkness. She went through rehabilitation in Houston, Texas, where she determined to struggle through all the physiotherapy and cognitive recoveries. It’s hard for her but she recovered tremendously and still making efforts to make our world a better place to stay.
“Get involved with your community, be a leader, setting example, be courageous, be your best!” This was what she said on TED Conference recently, inspiring all of us to step out of our comfort zones and endeavour to make our world better. (Watch the TED talk on the link below for details, it’s a TED talk which worth listening to)
Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly: Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best.
(Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Giffords )
Biblical example:
Paul, Apostle of Christ
In 2 Corinthians 11: 23- 28, Paul listed out the sufferings that he went through with God’s grace and mercy.
Paul’s sufferings as an apostle:
1. Imprisonments
2. Often near death
3. Received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one for 5 times
4. 3 times being beaten with rods
5. Being stoned once
6. Being shipwrecked for 3 times
7. Adrift at sea for a night and a day
8. Faced danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, Gentiles, false brothers, in the city, in the wilderness and at sea on his frequent journeys.
9. Went through many sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, cold and exposure.
10. Faced daily pressure due to his anxiety for all the churches.
In his sufferings, he did not see them as curse or threats but amazing gifts which brought him closer to God. They were Paul’s modified gifts which revealed his weaknesses, and from there, he constantly glorified God by continually recognising His highness. 2 Corinthians 11: 30- “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” As what Paul stated in this verse, He found intimate peace in God while going through every adversity through his entire life. The more he boasted about his weakness, the more glorified God is and of course, the stronger he got with Christ’s strength.
When you decrease, God increases, that’s the greatest secret of God’s kingdom, as what Paul has shown.
DOVE Philosophy of Happiness 