I am NOT happy!

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#81
See....
Why you need a librarian is because I could never figure out the card catalog system.

When I went to look for a book "The Bouncing Ball" it sometimes was under the "T's" and sometimes under the "B's" with no ryme or reason at all.

The librarian usually knew why but she wasn't telling.
Maybe she had two copies and put one under T and one under B so there was no excuse not to find it
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#82
we are on computers in the school library there is no more card catalog...!

I operate a card catalog system in the church library though...where there are still library cards in pockets and the books are listed in a folder.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#83
At least I havent colour coordinated all the books so all the red books are on one shelf and all the green books on another. and the mutlitcoloured books in their own category.

I could do it before I leave for the next person to sort out though...
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#84
Looks like I wont have time and the teachers will have to figure the dewey decimal system out on their own. Lord knows I gave them plenty of written instructions (which they dont bother reading)
 

justahumanbeing

Well-known member
Mar 25, 2020
465
257
63
#85
Do you tell everyone this when you are not happy?!

I have noticed my boss and some people will do this, like they want you to know right away. Is this good or bad? I supoose its honest and direct.

Whereas, if I am not happy I dont really tell everyone, I just kind of go to my room and cry.
Or maybe put on a rage song and yell at the top of my lungs (grunge music was good for this)

I think its because I dont really want to hurt anyone with my being unhappy, or make people think its all their fault. Then my unhappiness doesnt last for too long (after praying) cos being a misery guts isnt that fun to be around

Of course, one cant be happy ALL the time and you cant please everyone. Some people cope by drinking ('happy hour') but I never did that. Children just get happy meals from McDonalds. You can also go to a 'happy place' either in your mind or create one, and if Im not happy I kind of tend to change things around till I am happy. But I dont really tell other people that Im not happy cos what can they really do?

Doctors now can say 'take a chill pill' and actually prescribe anti-depressants. Or are their benefits to comiseration...like if someone tells you they are unhappy do you chime in and say yep life is pretty awful..!
Happiness is a state of mind. No. I don't tell anyone when I'm unhappy. In fact, most of the time, I make sure even my own family doesn't know that.

I've lived quite a traumatic life up until this point. God never promised anyone easy entry into heaven. The narrow path is not easy to tread on. If you're a Christian, yes, you will have troubles in life. Spiritual troubles and our never ending battle against our own sinful nature.

So, it's not for the faint of heart. However, God promises us the joy of knowing who He is. My happiness starts from Jesus. I know that no matter what happens, God has saved me and paid my debt for my sinful nature on the Cross.

So, this gives me immense happiness. But that doesn't mean I don't have down times. There are many sorrows which I had endured and continue to endure. I do that by God's grace. It's a package deal. You get everything in life. So, when things are not so happy or when it is the opposite of happy, I'm not always successful in staying calm and composed. But I keep trying to give it all in surrender to Jesus. Because God understands and He delivers.
 
Nov 26, 2021
1,125
545
113
India
#87
If one is not happy, tell Jesus. He's the Great Physician, and He will solve the problem. He will fill us with His Joy, which is one of the Gifts/Fruits of His Holy Spirit. And if we need something in our life, to make us happy - sin ultimately only makes us miserable - and it is God's Will for us, He will give us that too, as we persist in asking, as He Himself has promised, saying: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Mat 7:7) and: "You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." (John 16:24).

God Bless.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#88
pray pray pray

I really have been trying to get over the injustice of it all lately

I'm sure God has better things for me and that if I ask I will receive. I had this suggestions box in the library where I enouraged the children to write their wishes and one of the girls wrote she wanted a puppy dog about ten times. I cant give her a puppy (although there are a lot of puppy books in the library) but surely God can.

You can have 'emotional support' animals in schools these days. I have left the library cat in charge of the library.
 
N

notonmywatch

Guest
#89
Do you tell everyone this when you are not happy?!

I have noticed my boss and some people will do this, like they want you to know right away. Is this good or bad? I supoose its honest and direct.

Whereas, if I am not happy I dont really tell everyone, I just kind of go to my room and cry.
Or maybe put on a rage song and yell at the top of my lungs (grunge music was good for this)

I think its because I dont really want to hurt anyone with my being unhappy, or make people think its all their fault. Then my unhappiness doesnt last for too long (after praying) cos being a misery guts isnt that fun to be around

Of course, one cant be happy ALL the time and you cant please everyone. Some people cope by drinking ('happy hour') but I never did that. Children just get happy meals from McDonalds. You can also go to a 'happy place' either in your mind or create one, and if Im not happy I kind of tend to change things around till I am happy. But I dont really tell other people that Im not happy cos what can they really do?

Doctors now can say 'take a chill pill' and actually prescribe anti-depressants. Or are their benefits to comiseration...like if someone tells you they are unhappy do you chime in and say yep life is pretty awful..!
I believe that there is a major difference between happiness and joy. Happy has to do with hap or chance. Joy, on the other hand, is a fruit of the Spirit. I believe that someone can be in a very unhappy situation and still experience joy. Here are some biblical examples of what I'm suggesting:

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus endured the cross by looking forward to the joy that was set before him or the time when he would ascend back to heaven and be seated at the Father's right hand after being resurrected from the dead. We see this foretold in the prophetic 16th psalm.

Psalm 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Was Jesus "happy" while hanging on the cross? I'd have to say no, but he had joy as he looked towards the future, nonetheless.

Peter had this to say about our "manifold temptations" or about the many and various trials that we face as Christians:

1Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

1Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

As Christians, we can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, even in the midst of manifold temptations, if we receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls, or if we keep our minds fixed on the hope that is set before us.

Personally, there are many times when I'm not happy, but if I keep my mind focused upon the right things, then I'm always joyous.
 
N

notonmywatch

Guest
#90
Personally, there are many times when I'm not happy, but if I keep my mind focused upon the right things, then I'm always joyous.
Except when somebody cuts me off on the highway.

:)
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#91
Imagine if my boss had said 'I am NOT joyful'

I think she could have said 'I am angry' or 'I am sad' and been a bit more specific about her emotions on that day. Theres no rule saying you have to be happy ALL the time. Except in the US where happiness is like a human right.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,543
17,018
113
69
Tennessee
#92
Except in the US where happiness is like a human right.
Yeah, it states that, (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) in the document of the US Declaration of Independence. Of course, that is not binding as there is no such guarantee in the US Constitution which is binding and a matter of law.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#93
I thought of ways to make her happy, but could only come up with...

when she borrows a book, I give her a happy stamp on her hand

The younger children were all into this, but I noticed the older children started refusing the stamp. I suppose there comes a point where a happy meal no longer makes you happy. But these days, instead of a plastic toy you get a free book from mcdonalds.

Anyway, its all over now. Im not sure I liked the way she burned her bridges and it did seem like she'd had enough of school and was despearate to escape which was why I hardly saw her round but she couldnt admit to it and pretended in front of the children that everything was fine.

Of course the children dont pretend they are the most honest people I know...until they get taught by their teachers to hide their feelings especially if they are unacceptable.

The theres the whole chinese concept of saving face, which in the maori world means everything. My mum would do this and I learned early on that crying was unacceptable. Plus if you wore makeup your mascara would run and you'd look like a panda.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,151
9,245
113
#94
Imagine if my boss had said 'I am NOT joyful'

I think she could have said 'I am angry' or 'I am sad' and been a bit more specific about her emotions on that day. Theres no rule saying you have to be happy ALL the time. Except in the US where happiness is like a human right.
Pursuit of happiness is a human right. Doesn't mean you will catch it, but you can pursue the crap out of it.
 

Sculpt

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2021
1,138
362
83
#95
we are on computers in the school library there is no more card catalog...!

I operate a card catalog system in the church library though...where there are still library cards in pockets and the books are listed in a folder.
That's cool. A long time ago I got a job in a large insurance company's Training and Development dept. They asked me to create a library for the department from scratch, and a system for people to checkout the materials. They had books, VHS, cassettes, DVDs, CDs and binders. It was such an adventure!

I setup a Dewey Decimal system, cataloged every item into an excel spreadsheet and taped the (mostly hand-written) code label on the item. Along with the title, author, etc, I had to type in a short description for every item just by glancing through the table of contents.

Then I created a form in Word for checking out the item. I sent out a company email with a link to a system folder that had the Library Excel spreadsheet and the checkout form. The form had my library email address. Of course, I made another spreadsheet for item checkouts. And lastly, the company already had mail system.

It worked great. I was very surprised how little time it took to complete. I thought it'd take 6+ months. I thought they were crazy when they asked me to do it. I had no Library degree or experience.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#96
That's cool. A long time ago I got a job in a large insurance company's Training and Development dept. They asked me to create a library for the department from scratch, and a system for people to checkout the materials. They had books, VHS, cassettes, DVDs, CDs and binders. It was such an adventure!

I setup a Dewey Decimal system, cataloged every item into an excel spreadsheet and taped the (mostly hand-written) code label on the item. Along with the title, author, etc, I had to type in a short description for every item just by glancing through the table of contents.

Then I created a form in Word for checking out the item. I sent out a company email with a link to a system folder that had the Library Excel spreadsheet and the checkout form. The form had my library email address. Of course, I made another spreadsheet for item checkouts. And lastly, the company already had mail system.

It worked great. I was very surprised how little time it took to complete. I thought it'd take 6+ months. I thought they were crazy when they asked me to do it. I had no Library degree or experience.
how big was your collection?

well done
yes well the library degree is for people who want to manage huge collections and ones already up an running. There are other aspects of library work apart from cataloguing and circulation. But a lot of it is for the prestige value lol. There are library snobs in the world too.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#97
Not all libraries use the dewey decimal system. I was seriously thinking of ditching it but that would mean redoing thousands of books and its so entrenched that its less work to just follow it even though it frustrates logical librarians no end.

Anyway I was thinking of what a healthy outlet for rage and frustration could be.

Not drugs because you can die from it. I was thinking bean bags or maybe going for a run or doodling. Or even writing angry poetry, as Ive read a few of those, but the thing with poets is nobody then reads their work and they die of lonliness and despair. Didnt David pen all those whiny psalms? hmm

ANd we all know clowns are sad people in real life.That is why they wear so much make up to make themselves look happy.
 

Krumbeard

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2019
1,139
773
113
#98
Not all libraries use the dewey decimal system. I was seriously thinking of ditching it but that would mean redoing thousands of books and its so entrenched that its less work to just follow it even though it frustrates logical librarians no end.

Anyway I was thinking of what a healthy outlet for rage and frustration could be.

Not drugs because you can die from it. I was thinking bean bags or maybe going for a run or doodling. Or even writing angry poetry, as Ive read a few of those, but the thing with poets is nobody then reads their work and they die of lonliness and despair. Didnt David pen all those whiny psalms? hmm

ANd we all know clowns are sad people in real life.That is why they wear so much make up to make themselves look happy.
Yeah, drugs wouldn't be a good idea.

Bu the other thoughts you had would probably be more productive.

Reading the psalms would be a great idea. You're not the first to be frustrated or unsure.

Jesus sweated blood because he was so stressed about what he knew he had to do.
And when he was dying he quoted the psalms.

Clowns...the clown from "IT" ended up being a spider, I think. Such an odd story.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#99
Jesus often turned the other cheek (eg, if you were going to slap him, he'd make you do it twice)
but he also got angry at times.

Turning the other cheek when people wrong you is sometimes the hardest thing a christian has to do. We so want to retaliate, respond, or take vengeance. But we have to leave it to God.

I do at times rebuke and exhort but its a hard thing to do when its like your elders who should really know better. This is why children are so powerless and have to accept whatver punishment an adult has for them even if its not deserved.

unfortunately when children grow up it can leave lasting scars and a legacy of resentment and bitterness, and these children are less likely to want to care for their elders when they get older and need it.

However a few examples of forgiveness and reconciliation need to be recalled. Eg in the Bible, Joseph and his brothers, Jacob and Esau, Jesus and Peter

Other examples...Corrie Ten Boom and her concentration camp guard, David Wilkinson and Nicky Cruz, Nelson Mandela and his captors....

I think elders shouldnt really be surprised when the younger generation turn on them, or parents find that their teenager becomes rebellious. Or husbands find their wives crying. To be under ones thumb all the time and to have to please everyone can be a huge strain.
 

Krumbeard

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2019
1,139
773
113
Jesus often turned the other cheek (eg, if you were going to slap him, he'd make you do it twice)
but he also got angry at times.

Turning the other cheek when people wrong you is sometimes the hardest thing a christian has to do. We so want to retaliate, respond, or take vengeance. But we have to leave it to God.

I do at times rebuke and exhort but its a hard thing to do when its like your elders who should really know better. This is why children are so powerless and have to accept whatver punishment an adult has for them even if its not deserved.

unfortunately when children grow up it can leave lasting scars and a legacy of resentment and bitterness, and these children are less likely to want to care for their elders when they get older and need it.

However a few examples of forgiveness and reconciliation need to be recalled. Eg in the Bible, Joseph and his brothers, Jacob and Esau, Jesus and Peter

Other examples...Corrie Ten Boom and her concentration camp guard, David Wilkinson and Nicky Cruz, Nelson Mandela and his captors....

I think elders shouldnt really be surprised when the younger generation turn on them, or parents find that their teenager becomes rebellious. Or husbands find their wives crying. To be under ones thumb all the time and to have to please everyone can be a huge strain.
Good thoughts.