February 1
A Cheerful
Heart
"A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up."
Proverbs 17:22 (NIrV)
Miriam slammed the car door shut and sighed. Another long day at work, and nothing had gone her way. Her coworkers annoyed her, traffic had been unbearable, and even her coffee had been cold this morning. Every day seemed to be the same—a series of irritations that built up into a storm cloud over her head.
She walked into her house, greeted by the sight of her teenage daughter, Clara, sprawled on the couch. “Have you done your homework yet?” Miriam snapped.
Clara didn’t even look up from her phone. “Not yet.”
“Why can’t you ever take responsibility?” Miriam muttered, stomping into the kitchen.
Later that evening, Miriam overheard Clara talking to her dad. “Why is Mom always so grumpy?” she whispered. “It feels like she doesn’t even like us anymore.”
Miriam froze, the words hitting her like a blow to the chest. Was that really how her family saw her? She realized she’d been carrying her frustration and anger everywhere, letting it seep into every part of her life. She didn’t want to be this way, but she didn’t know how to change.
The next morning, Miriam picked up her Bible, something she hadn’t done in weeks. As she flipped through the pages, her eyes landed on Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.”
She thought about how dry and weary her spirit had felt for so long. “Lord,” she whispered, “I don’t want to live like this anymore. Help me find joy, even in the small things. Change my heart.”
Over the next few weeks, Miriam began to focus on gratitude. When she felt herself slipping into frustration, she stopped and prayed. She started keeping a journal, jotting down things she was thankful for each day—the warmth of the sun, Clara’s laugh, even the way her coffee smelled in the morning.
Her transformation didn’t happen overnight, but gradually, the storm cloud over her began to lift. Miriam smiled more, laughed more, and her home felt lighter too. Clara noticed it first. “You’re different, Mom,” she said one evening. “It’s nice.”
Miriam hugged her tightly. “I’m learning to have a cheerful heart,” she said. “And it’s making me feel alive again.”
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for teaching us that joy is not just an emotion but a choice we can make every day.
Like Miriam, we sometimes let frustration and negativity take over, but we know You want so much more for us.
Help us to find joy in You and in the blessings You’ve given us.
Transform our hearts and make them cheerful, bringing light and life to those around us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
