Throughout our recorded human history great people such as Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato all suggest that we personally play a pivotal role in our own happiness. Our right for the pursuit of happiness was also written by Thomas Jefferson in America's Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies; but what we use as our guide to obtain happiness is essential to truly achieving happiness.

If one reads the beginning paragraph and the first sentence of the second paragraph of America's Declaration of Independence, you will have, what I feel, is a realistic guide to how to achieve happiness. I have copied the beginning parts of the Declaration of Independence below for you to read for yourself, and I have underlined what I feel is our clue to what is our guide to this pursuit.

The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I also read and see these patriotic words and their meaning from a Christian viewpoint. How you interpret these words maybe different than my interpretation.

Our Father in Heaven’s first wish for us is that it is that we develop and have a deep, meaningful relationship with Him. His second wish is regarding our treatment and actions towards our fellow man are the same as we would do for ourselves. These are the primary commandments of our Father, but because of Him also granting us (free will) He does not make us do them, it is up to each of us as God’s children to decide to follow His wishes or not. Just as we are as parents, we can instruct and guide our children, but we cannot make them follow our wishes, we only hope that they will see their importance and meaning, and adopt them as part of their character in their own lives.

If each of us does not respect and treat our fellow man with the respect and dignity as an equal, life can be hell on earth. Also, if each of us does not have a continuing and growing relationship with our Father in Heaven life can not only be hell on earth but beyond into the afterlife.

People from different walks of life, stature and income levels have made the statement that they feel something has always been missing in their lives, and not until they initiated an ongoing relationship with the Father in Heaven thought Jesus Christ did this void seem filled. These constant reminders throughout history and in our daily lives themselves should be a neon sign for our guide as to what we need to do in the pursuit of happiness, but as the adage goes "History repeats itself." Why is this statement true? Because many people seem to not learn from history and others mistakes, hence we repeat them!

I can only pray as a patriotic Christian that to those who read this article will wake up and smell the coffee, and indelibly take them to heart.

The author of this article, Steven is the webmaster of Family-eStore.com

Steven E Coffman