"The simple things that make for a happy life are -- "knowledge, truth, love, beauty, goodness, faith, these alone without wealth give vitality to the mechanism of existence; the laugh of mirth that vibrates through the heart, the tears that freshen the dry wastes within, the music that brings childhood back, the prayer that calls the future near, the doubt which makes us meditate, the death which startles us with mystery, the hardship that forces us to struggle, the anxiety that ends in trust -- these are the true nourishment of our natural being. Happy are they of simpler feelings, who know from what slight elements the hand of taste can weave the colors into the web of life, and from what familiar memories the heart draws the song of cheerfulness as the work proceeds; who find no true pleasure marred because it is common, nor any indulgence needful because it is decreed by custom; who discern how little the "palace" can add to the sincere joy of a loving and a Christian home; who have the firmness to retire to that inner region, and embrace the toils of reason, the labors of sympathy, the strife of conscience, the exhaustless ambition of Duty, as Heaven's own way to combine the divinest activity with the profoundest repose." Martineau.  

  "Here is a man, who serves humanity from personal ambition, and earns the good will of his neighbors, that he may advance his position in his social circles. He selects some conspicuous effort, and labors at it visibly enough, and defends himself from the criticisms of the few that dislike him, by surrounding himself with the applause and approval of the many; and if you look at him, busy before the face of his community, you will not fail to see the intent of his diligence; that in proportion as they raise the shout of approval, he prosecutes the work; and when they are tired of him, he grows idle; and when they can lift their voices no higher,   and nothing more can be gained by laboring for their good, either he begins to toil in the opposite direction, or, throwing down all implements of work, gives himself up to some strange frolic, at which the spectators who have exhausted all their praise, may at least gratify him by being astonished." Martineau.

Understanding people.

At times the peaceable day-to day existence may feel strange, especially to survivors who have been raised in a traumatic environment and are experiencing normality for the first time. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse talks about the difficulties of recovery just re-entering normal life.

  "I'm an intensity junkie. I feel a letdown whenever I come to the end of a particular cycle of intensity. What am I going to cry and throw scenes about now? I see it as almost a chemical addiction. I became addicted to my own sense of drama and adrenaline. Letting go of the need for intensity has been a process of slowly weaning myself. I've gotten to a point where I've actually experienced bits of plain contentment." 

  "He who consecrates himself to Christ, sees at once how God may sanctify the world; he whose mind is rich in the memory of moral victories, will not easily believe the world a scene of moral defeats; nor was it ever known that one who, like Paul, labored for the good of man, ever despaired of the benevolence of God.

  Whoever then would have the peace of Christ, let him seek first the spirit of Christ. Let him not fret against the conditions which God assigns to his being, but reverently conform himself to them, and do and enjoy the good which they allow." Martineau. 

  "The strife of temptation, and the toil of duty, and the cry of grief, let these three be a constant concern of every true Christian. If we become complacent to these three, will we not go all alone into the silence of death and eternity, and then personally look into the reality of those things, which we were always aware of, but never attended. Will we not stand face to face with the God whose service he has strenuously encouraged? Empty, it is to be feared -- of the only offering which we could tranquilly offer, -- the offer of ourselves; and thrown upon the Infinite, not as a child upon a parent's bosom, but as a penitent in abasement before the Judge."  Martineau.

The continual strife of temptation we battle, as well as others in their struggle; the daily toil of duties we face each day as well as others who bow under its weight; and the cry of grief within, as we overcome our demons, and the cry of those without, who face poverty, oppression, abuse and despair: and often alone. 

  "You see a mother leaning with a mother's pride and tenderness upon a son. The son you know. You know his vices, the evil habits to which he has yielded himself. You pity the mother for her fond blindness to what all others see so plainly. Pity her if you will, but not because she is blind, but because she sees so much. Love is not blind; least of all, a mother's love. Do not believe that she failed to notice the first slight veiling of the pure confidence in his glance that used to be so frank, or the first closing of the heart which used to be open to her as the day, the first sinking of his spirit which use to be so buoyant in its pure affection. She sees all as only love can see. She feels all as only love can feel. And yet because she loves, she trusts, in spite of what she sees, in spite of the sorrow that fills her heart, --- sorrow which she would breathe in no ear but one. Her love sees all, yet for its object it believes all things and hopes all things.

Such is the faith of love. It does not believe because it does not see, or because it does not feel. It believes because it loves." Charles C. Everett, D.D.