At least five or six times a day my 2-year-old daughter will look at me with a smile and ask “Daddy, are you happy?” I look back into her eyes and say “Yes, sweetie.” On occasion I will look at her and say “I’m not happy with the way your behaving, but I’m full of joy.” I have been teaching her that in life you won’t always be happy. There are going to be things that cause sadness, strife, anger, fear, doubt, and disrupt your happiness for periods of time. Happiness is state of emotion, something momentary, while joy is a state of being and is eternal. Happiness is the result of things we do and life’s pleasures. Joy is the result of knowing that God loves us unconditionally and has a home for us when our time on earth is over.
There is an old Spanish proverb that says ““There is no happiness; there are only moments of happiness.” Happiness says chase pleasure and self. Joy says chase God in all times good and bad. In times of distress when it is tough to be happy you can still have joy. It’s at these times that the love of God is needed the most,that’s where joy is.
I love being happy and love to see my daughter and family with smiles on their faces. There is nothing wrong with happiness in life, it is an awesome thing. What happens is that most people seek happiness over and over again and are never satisfied. Moments of happiness are quick. Once happiness leaves there is an empty feeling that says “go find more happiness any way you can.” Hollywood can often be a good example. There those who are happy then what made them happy is good enough anymore. Then they are lured in by drugs and pleasures of the world. We can all fall victim to chasing happiness. I’ve been there. The joy of God fills the emptiness happiness leaves behind.
I want my daughter to understand this early in her life . When she faces times where the world seems unfair and happiness is far away she can turn to me and say “Daddy, I’m not happy right now, but I have joy.” With joy in your life you’ll begin to see an amazing thing, happiness comes more often.
May the joy of the Lord be with you.
Joseph Cortez 
Joseph, it brings JOY to see your profound writings. Brings JOY when our grandaughter also ask that very same question.
Ayla Grace, your daughter is our grandaughter 🙂 …..she asks us the same questions and we always answer, OF COURSE, WE ARE HAPPY, because today is a special day because you are here! God is always with us.