Quite some time ago I learned that one way to have strong healthy fingernails is to add garlic to clear nail polish. After using the system my nails were indeed long and healthy and strong. I sent a picture of my long healthy nails to 2 good friends. One friend immediately responded with "Beautiful!" and the other didn't respond at all. What my friends didn't know is my desire/goal was to bless them. I had purchased 10 bottles of the garlic infused nail polish with the intention of giving some to my friends. Well I did give some to the friend who responded and was happy for me; but the friend who ignored my picture got nothing. It wasn't that I was trying to punish that friend; but I wanted to see some interest so I'd know my blessing was appreciated. The bottom line is those who are genuinely happy for others who are being blessed and doing well are the ones positioned to receive blessings themselves.

I imagine that the friend who ignored my picture might have thought to herself, "How vain of her; she is just bragging about her nails!" She might have been able to justify her lack of happiness for me, but at the root of it was jealousy and selfishness. We have to get to the point where we can be happy for others, even when they are receiving the very thing we've wanted and been denied for years. The friend whom responded had actually had issues with her nails but she was still genuinely happy for me. You can imagine how happy I was to bless her. Similarly God is looking for people with pure hearts; hearts full of love that can be happy for others - even when they are denied themselves. The person who is annoyed by others' praise reports is not ready for promotion. I want to be happy for others whether I feel like they "deserve" it or not. I pray that God will make us people who can rejoice in the success of others; regardless of our own success. We can all be successful lovers by loving God and loving people.