A Cheerful Heart

Gò0dNews for Kids

A Cheerful Heart

by Danny Hesterly

It’s summer! That’s something to be excited about. Let’s shout it out loud together. It’s S-U-M-M-E-R! That felt pretty good, right? I treasure this time of year because the days are long, and it brings back many wonderful memories.

Growing up, on the last day of school, I would have this jittery excitement because I knew what awaited the next 2 ½ months for me and my siblings. Summer brought this special privilege of getting to stay up late each night playing the newest Nintendo video games with my sister

and brother. Now, I’m talking about the old-school Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), also known as the best gaming console ever made (at least in my opinion).

It was only in summer that my brother and sister and I were allowed to sleep in the kitchen. The kitchen was a special place in our home. The kitchen was where my mom would cook some of the tastiest food I’ve ever eaten. It was also a place that introduced me to the flavors of Korean cuisine. This was my mom’s favorite room in the home. Every dish she served was full of dedication and love for her family.

Now to me, the kitchen held different importance because it had the only TV connected to the Nintendo. Also, nearly equal in importance as the TV was our only window air conditioning unit in the house. Summertime in Southern Illinois can be blistering hot, and sleeping in my bedroom with only a box fan pushing hot air around was not my idea of a cool summer. So, my siblings and I would sort of take over the kitchen each summer, enjoying countless hours with one another while enjoying the cool breeze from the good old AC (short for air-conditioning). Proverbs 15:13 says, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” Summer is a great time to have fun and make wonderful memories with your family and friends. Did you notice what this proverb or piece of wisdom said? It said, “a cheerful heart brings a smile to your face.” A cheerful heart is a heart full of gratitude. Another way you could say that is a cheerful heart is a thankful heart. When you’re thankful, you’re showing an appreciation for something or that you treasure something special. I treasured my summers growing up as a kid because I knew there were things I got to do that I normally didn’t do while school was happening. I was thankful that my mom shared the kitchen with us each summer.

Take a moment and write down or tell a parent, sibling, or friend some of the things you’d like to do this summer that will bring a smile to your face. I bet some of those things will also bring a smile to a parent, sibling, or friend’s face too. Here’s to a fantastic, fun, and memorable summer!

About The Author Danny Hesterly lives in Chattanooga, TN where he spends most of his days in coffee shops helping others discover their part in God’s amazing story. Danny has two children (12, 10) and has been married to his lovely bride for 17 years.