Character matters!  Honesty, fairness, and integrity matter.  Integrity (dictionary.com) means adherence to a moral code; honest; a state of being whole; or perfect condition.  Where none of us meet perfection, the state of perfection is the hope of heaven – promised to those in Christ.  We will live best with character by following the pure model – Christ.  Purity is not something people often ascribe to themselves or others, but when it comes to our bottled water, it is comforting to see the word “pure” or “purified” on the label!  This is at least an assertion that the impurities have been removed – those chemicals and contaminants that are not desired for consumption.

Carl Rogers was known for the importance of alliance or relationship in therapy.  Genuineness and authenticity of the therapist have been noted to be particularly desired by clients and important for positive outcome.  Most people prefer to interact with others who might be characterized as genuine/ the real deal.  A multitude of research studies have noted the importance of alliance in therapy of which the therapist’s authenticity is a necessary ingredient.

Therapy is not always comfortable as it is not easy to face one’s own short-comings or make changes in one’s life.  The purification process for gold or silver requires quite a bit of energy and heat – not comfortable, but results are preferable to the unpurified ore.  A focus on having a pure heart (character and good intentions vs. deceptive and selfish) is a worthy goal.  Ps 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast (right) spirit within me.

This beatitude contains the promise of seeing God.  For those with a Biblical worldview, being in the presence of God is longed for.  Ps 24:3-6  Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

Happiness and contentment come to those who are willing to live by character.

​When you have done something wrong, the proper response is to feel remorse which fuels your willingness to make amends or apologize.  This behavior then paves the way for reconciliation of the relationship.  Relationships are important to us and unforgiveness will destroy relationships.  Make no mistake, unforgiveness and bitterness will destroy us, as well.
We can indulge in guilt and shame when we refuse to forgive ourselves, but this most often results in more ineffective behavior and painful emotions.  We are all fallible, but have the potential to learn from our experiences and change course.  Certainly it hurts when we have been wronged, but hanging onto a perceived right to punish (holding a grudge) also hurts and that injury is insidious in that it will literally destroy our own health and well-being. 
One can forgive by choice.  Forgiveness is the letting go of the perceived right to punish or apply a sanction for a perceived wrong suffered.  Forgiveness is a gift that you give yourself and the other person(s).  You can forgive all by yourself and without an apology being offered.  All of us are infinitely fallible and will do things that provide the opportunity for forgiveness.  Holding grudges is painful and no amount a vengeance ever makes a thing right, so we never feel justified.  Learn from experiences and make another choice that has the potential to result in peace within yourself and your relationships.

Luke 6 :38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Matt 6 :12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matt 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

​I cannot say that I fully appreciate these verses, but what I do know is that the more we practice compassion and forgiveness toward ourselves and others, the more at peace we will be and the more we are likely to experience that compassion and forgiveness when we are in need of it.  No, it is not a linear axiom that if you are kind to someone, they will be kind to you.  It is a general principle that you will be treated better when you treat others well.
From the spiritual perspective, whether or not we are treated with mercy and forgiveness by others, we are promised mercy from God when we offer mercy to others.
It feels good to receive mercy, so let’s practice the golden rule and practice mercy for the good of others and ourselves.

Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Most reading this have never really been hungry or thirsty in the same sense as those who are without or have inadequate food for lengthy periods of time; however, we do know the sensation we refer to as being hungry or thirsty. We might even say, “I am starving!”  If you have been physically active in this southern heat, you likely know what it is to be thirsty.   When hungry or thirsty, nothing will do but food and drink.  A good song, a kind word, a massage or a ball game will just not satisfy when you are thirsty or hungry.  It is with that kind of urgency and focus that we are to go after righteousness.  That righteousness is manifested in the person of Jesus.
Romans 3:10 “There is no one righteous, not even one;
Is 64:6a  All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
Since none of us are good enough in and of ourselves - none of us are perfectly righteous; we are woefully inadequate and are in need of a Savior in order to experience forgiveness, self-acceptance and  eternity in Heaven.
John 10:10  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (in abundance)
Rom 5:17  For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
God sent His Son in order that we might have eternal life (John 3:16) and He wants us to have an abundant life spiritually even while here on earth as we anticipate heaven.
Albert Ellis and other behavioral health theorists and practitioners knew/know that we people are generally happier when vitally absorbed in something outside of ourselves – a creative interest and/or significant interpersonal involvement.  The Bible encourages us to be other-focused, but our tendency is to focus everything toward us (self-centered) vs. focused on the object of righteousness, Jesus.  Behavioral health practitioners encourage clients to be other focused as that tends to positively affect their outlook.  Behaving in a pro-social manner is certainly beneficial in itself, but it lacks the ultimate power as no matter how much one might try, none of us even live up to our own standards all the time.
Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Jesus is the only way to have that spiritual hunger and thirst satisfied.  We may try to satisfy it in other ways and may even fool ourselves into thinking we are satisfied, but at some point, we will be disappointed.
Hunger and thirst after righteousness.  This is a path to happiness.  We may not be happy about everything, but we can have a steadfast contentment and faith knowing that God is in control and loves us.  With this comes acceptance and peace.