I am happy.

Words I’m scared to say out loud. Scared that if they leave their home inside my mind they’ll be attacked along the road and exist no more. Scared that happiness only lasts as long as I keep it safe and quiet.

But this happiness has been long in the asking and hard in the wrestling. And such a thing demands celebration.

I’m celebrating the unadulterated joy of games nights with friends; school camps and the company of my students; late nights with my cousins; afternoon naps; watching live musical theatre; croissant sandwiches on slow Sunday mornings; and the perfect peace rooted deep in my soul that my life is held safe in the hands of a loving God.

I’m celebrating because I’m not so naive to believe that this feeling will be constant – this world is a little too broken for such assurance. I’m letting this happiness leave loud from my mind, so I can come back to it during the inevitable days of sorrow and be reminded of the hope I have beyond the boundary of this life:

Happiness is coming to stay for good.