Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.  George Washington

Have you ever known anyone who was waiting for happiness to just "happen"? They wait for their ship to come in or their number to come up or for Mr. or Miss "Right" to just show up on their doorstep one day. The sad fact of the matter is that ships do not usually come in, that most people don't win the lottery and true love does not happen without some virtuous effort.

I heard a father describe a conversation his daughter had with a young man who wanted to take her out. When she declined his offer for a date he asked why. When she told him that she knew that he drank and she did not drink he asked, "Then, what do you do for fun?" Her response was classic: She said, "I get up in the morning and I look at myself in the mirror, unashamed." Now, that's fun!

Years later, that virtuous young lady married a nice young man and they had a wonderful family. They experienced true love and true happiness, because of the truth that George Washington recognized over 200 years ago: Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. Good marriages do not just happen any more than good people just happen. Moral duty is hard! But, have you ever noticed, that it is nearly always easier than the consequences one must eventually pay for ignoring virtue?

Lasting happiness is a byproduct of virtue. This may sound old-fashioned, narrow-minded, and out of touch with reality, but who cares. Personally I like being happy, and if that makes me out of step with modern man then that's okay. We have all made our share of mistakes in our quest for happiness, but we have a Father in Heaven who truly wants us to be happy and He has designed a plan for us to accomplish that goal. It requires effort and sacrifice and an occasional denying ourselves of instant gratification - but it works. Besides, did we think that something as tremendous as eternal happiness would be easy?

I know that there is nothing better than for men to be happy and do good while they live. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12, NIV