There was once a young princess in a faraway land. She was the most beautiful girl for hundreds of miles. Nobleman from far and wide traveled to her father's castle in order to woo the girl for their bride. Not only was she beautiful, but she had much wealth. However, it did not take long to notice that though beautiful on the outside, she was bitter, cold, and never found satisfaction in anything done for her. Her maids could never pin her hair exactly right. The tailor could never make a garment that suited her tastes. And she didn't understand why no one could make her happy. She vexed the servants so much, her parents had to constantly search for new servants. Although her parents gave her everything her heart desired, it was never enough; nothing made her happy.
One day while strolling through the market, the young princess noticed a peasant of her own age. The peasant had an aura of peace and happiness around her with a constant smile which lit her plain features. The princess wondered how this simple peasant, who had nothing material and lived from day to day, could possibly be happier than she, a princess who had everything except happiness. This could not be! While she talked condescendingly to the peasant girl, the girl only kept smiling and did not seem to be humbled by the princess in all her beauty and power at all! It was intolerable for the princess to think she could not make someone lower than she herself felt. She tried every way to vex the peasant girl, but the girl never lost her smile or joy in her eyes. Finally, feeling close to a temper tantrum, the princess asked the girl how she, with nothing, could possibly be happy.
 “Because I choose to be,” replied the maiden.
“I don't understand.”
“It is no one else's responsibility to make me happy. My happiness comes from within. It is a choice I make every morning. I can choose to be happy and be at peace within from God who gives it, or I can choose to be bitter and unhappy with everyone.”
The princess at once heard an accusation in this response and grew haughtier. “I disagree,” she said. “I am a princess. It is everyone's duty to make me happy.”
“My lady,” replied the maiden, “if you cannot find happiness within yourself, how can anyone provide that happiness from outside yourself?”
Too many times, we look for happiness from everyone but ourselves. We look to our children, spouse, and friends to make us happy. We seek material possessions thinking that, too, will make us happy. No one owes us happiness. We can choose to be happy and give our burdens to Christ who died for our sins; or we can chose unforgiveness and be angry and bitter with everyone. It is not a difficult choice to make. What choice will you make this week?