Surprised By … Happiness

Jan 8, 2014

Are you visiting from Jennifer’s place today? You are welcome here.

I’m an English PhD who traded the university classroom

for an old farmhouse and a writing desk.

I write about dreams and desire, I write about family and faith.

I write to remember that life is magical.

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Her smile is even more dazzling in person.

Which means she stands out in this family. For the most part, we Purifoys are deep thinkers and deep feelers. Quick to notice trouble and pain, more than a little inclined to grumpiness first thing in the morning.

But not this one. We all dote on her because she’s the smallest, the cutest, but I think we dote on her for another reason: she is, more often than not, the happiest. She is a candle, a bouquet of flowers, a breath of fresh, spring air. Our happy, smiley baby girl.

And there’s a story behind that. A prayer, too.

I tend to pray vague, intangible prayers. They are halting, more than a bit ragged. But I think they are my best prayers. They are so full of holes, of all I don’t know and cannot quite see, there is plenty of room for God to come and live in them.

I know this because I once prayed for happiness.

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Sometimes we live with a story for quite a while before it occurs to us to share it. Sometimes we need a nudge. An invitation.

I am grateful to the writer and blogger Jennifer Dukes Lee for giving me that nudge. I am grateful for the invitation to share a story with her readers. Today, I’m sharing the story of this prayer. It was a surprising prayer with an even more unexpected answer.

I’d like to share this story with you, too.

Will you follow me here to read along?

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8 Comments

  1. Tracy Defina

    Living water!! Thanks Christy that your river overflows!! Precious!

    Reply
    • Christie Purifoy

      Thank you, Tracy! So grateful to know you are reading here.

      Reply
  2. elizabeth marshall

    How exquisitely told. You have warmed me with your prose and covered me in hope. Blessings and gratitude.

    Reply
  3. Lorilee Mundfrom

    This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your answer to prayer. She is beautiful. I especially love the beautiful” blueberry eyes” !

    Reply
    • Christie Purifoy

      Lorilee, I call her “mama’s little blueberry muffin.” 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lorilee Mundfrom

    I would too! What a beautiful answer to prayer.

    Reply
  5. ktg

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  6. sue Tell

    Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, Christy!!!

    Reply

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