Another Lesson

I heard some good news from someone at school yesterday and this experience came to my mind, again......
One day in our visiting, Dad shared a thought with me that has stuck with me. Every time this situation comes up I think about what he said. I don't remember the situation of why this conversation came up, if we were just talking or experiencing it, but it stuck with me.

We were talking about feeling joy because of other's happiness. I remember him saying that so many times he would hear something similar to this conversation:

A: I see you have a new car.
B: Yeah, I sure needed it and isn't it nice?
A: Where did you get all the money?
B: I got a loan like every one else does. Now I have to pay it off.
A: Wish I could afford one.

Or this conversation:

A: We just got our plans finalized for a vacation that we want to take.
B: Wish I could go on a vacation. We never get to do anything. I don't want to hear about your vacation.

Dad then went on to talk about how many times he listened to similar exchanges. One person so excited they wanted to share their happiness, and the other person not wanting to hear about it because of jealousy. He told about one time he had heard that a certain man in town had a new truck. When he saw that man Dad remarked that he had been told about the new truck. Dad asked to see it, and made a fuss over the inside, the color, etc. The guy seemed thrilled to be able to share his new "toy" with someone. After the happy exchange, the guy told Dad that he was the first person to ask to see the truck. The happy owner then went on to say how he had been made to feel like a bad person through everyone else's apparent jealousy about his truck. He said he bought a new truck because he needed one, could afford it, and got a good deal. Why did other's feel he shouldn't be happy about it, take his happiness away, or put such a damper on it all?

Our conversation when on to discuss how we need to be happy for other people's happiness. That includes not saying you are "jealous" but "glad" or "happy for them". Let them talk about the good things in their lives so they will feel they can also share the bad or hard times.

I remember sitting there in the kitchen (of course, that is where all the good conversations took place), and hearing him talk about that man's new truck, and being happy for him. Something I remember when "Good Things Happen."