Pack Up Your Happy

PACK UP YOUR HAPPY

Bags Don't Pack Themselves

Lots of people have heard the phrase *pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile. It was written way before my time, but in spite of that I’m familiar with it.

A version of it came to mind this week in a Christmas note from old friends.

They have made several moves since they retired. First, they left Arizona to be near family in another state. Then they moved into a retirement center there, and another one after that.

This year, now in their nineties, they wrote that they had moved into an assisted living center. But the phrase that stood out to me was this: “We always take our happy with us.”

Be Positive - Be Healthy

I loved reading that because my memories of this couple match the comment. I think of their sense of humor, twinkling eyes and ready smiles.

Proverbs 15:30 describes the writer of this Christmas letter: Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

The Message puts it this way: A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

It’s not that they didn’t have any troubles to pack up. The same note said, "We’ve had some health issues.” At the end it said, “Please excuse my shaky printing.” Gladly, I thought, at least you’re still reaching out to people.

Happiness is an inside job . . . a choice . . . a personal decision.

No one can make you happy!

You may think so when you receive the desire of your heart or a wish comes true, but those are outside you. Your happy response is still an inside job.

The best-known words to the old marching song are in the chorus:

A Soldier Always Has Challenges

*Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,

And smile, smile, smile.

Don’t let your laughter hit the snag,

Smile boys, that’s the style

What’s the use of worrying?

It never was worthwhile, so

Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,

And smile, smile, smile.

The thing about packing up is that you have to handle each item and decide where it goes. So, packing up your troubles is not just ignoring them. It means you acknowledge they exist but you choose not to make them your main focus.

Life is full of daily challenges. Even Jesus said, in his lesson on the futility of worry, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34).

It would be nice if we could live life in a trouble-free zone. But since that’s not possible, we must make a choice: How will we handle our troubles?

One good option is to face reality, then pack up your happy and keep it with you.

*Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile was written by a Welshman, George Henry Powell under the pseudonym George Asaf, and set to music by his brother, Felix Powell. It was published in London in 1915 and became well known through theatrical productions.