There are those who are unhappy.  There are those who want you to be unhappy with them.  Misery truly does love company.

A while back I was confronted by such a person.  My initial thought was... "oh no they didn't!"  Oh yes they did.

I was faced with making an instantaneous decision:  To explode, or not to explode.  That is the question.

I chose the latter.

I'm reminded of Luke 6:45.  From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  While yes, my mouth spoke firmly and stood for what was right, there was no disrespect or discontent involved.  That's not to say I didn't think about it... Mmmm... just a bit.

Jesus reminds us that you don't get figs from thorn bushes, and you don't get grapes from briers.  Rather, a good person brings out the good that is in their heart.

Death was spoken towards me that day by the bitter words of what was truly in the heart of someone else.  I was truly saddened.  Not for me, but for the unhappiness of another.

Speak truth, yes, and be firm.  Never fear proclaiming what God's word says, or standing for His principles.  He is due that honor.

Furthermore, fill your life and your entire being with that truth.  Out of that comes that peace, joy, and contentment we all long for.  Our mouths are then filled with those promises!

Life is difficult.  That's a fact.  That's the result of our sin nature and living in this fallen world.  But we can live a life pleasing to God, and truly live a life of happiness in the midst of the unhappiness of others.

Who knows?  Your joy may just be the remedy one bitter person needs.