Holiness Over Happiness

"Holiness, not happiness, is the chief end of man." I attended a funeral yesterday and couldn't help but think about what Oswald Chambers once said. As my husband's beloved grandfather was laid to rest I kept thinking that nothing mattered but the legacy he left for his children on earth. Not his achievements. Or his money. Or even his relationships. When he stands face to face, naked, before the The King, what matters isn't that he made his children happy. Or that he provided for them or gave them a good life. The only thing that matters for him is that he lived a holy life. I've come far enough in my walk with Christ to say that I strive to choose holiness. Struggle as I may, I understand the true meaning of life so even when it's hard, I strive to choose holiness in the end. But this "holiness over happiness" concept becomes a whole new ballgame when it comes to my son. What if he comes to me one day, miserable, in say his marriage? What if he says those dreaded words, "I'm not happy." What if he says he can't make it for 50 years and that he made a mistake? You see, I can endure hardships. I would take my son's pain all the days of my life. But telling God that my child is off limits, that his happiness trumps holiness, does him and myself a great disservice. I mean, doesn't this sound familiar? Did this ""holiness versus happiness"" choice not confront Jesus in the Garden? He prayed to His Daddy to take his cup of suffering, yet at the end of His prayers what was that He said? ""Not My will but Yours be done." How do you think God The Father felt as He heard the gut wrenching cries of His One and Only Son. Yet in His prayers, God empowered Jesus to say, "not my will but yours be done." Wow. That I could be so bold, so eternally minded, for my child. God knew the weight of what Christ was asking. And He knows the weight of what we are asking. For ourselves and for our children. We do ourselves and our children great great great harm when we try to short circuit what God intends for glory. 1 Peter 3:21, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps." I've chosen holiness too many times to ignore the fact that it ALWAYS leads to long-term happiness. And that choosing temporary happiness always leads to sorrow. I've got to make holiness consistent in my life. It's too important, especially when it comes to my beloved son. I don't care if he's unhappy in the moment. It's my job to point him to glory. If God could point His Own Son to glory then who do I think I am not doing the same? Because you better believe that when I'm standing face to face with My King, I will not regret choosing holiness for myself and my loved ones. And when my son is standing at my grave, I pray that he says, "She chose holiness."