An ounce of cheerfulness is worth a pound of sadness to serve

Thomas Fuller, the wise divine of old England, gave this bright counsel: “An ounce of cheerfulness is worth a pound of sadness to serve God with.” In this saying, he teaches that cheerfulness, though small in measure, has greater strength to honor the divine than the heavy weight of sorrow. For while sadness may be sincere, it often weakens the soul; but joy, even a little, gives wings to service, making duty light and worship glad.

The heart of his wisdom lies in the spirit with which we live. To serve with gloom is to drag one’s feet before heaven, but to serve with cheerfulness is to run swiftly, as a child runs gladly to a loving father. Fuller reminds us that God delights not in endless sighs, but in hearts that shine even in trial. A smile of faith outweighs a flood of tears, for joy springs from trust, while sadness too often springs from despair.

History bears this truth in shining witness. Francis of Assisi, poor and burdened by the cares of the world, carried no riches, yet his radiant cheerfulness made him a beacon to all he met. His songs and laughter turned poverty into abundance, and his joyful service inspired others to follow. He gave the world proof of Fuller’s words: a single ounce of joy can accomplish more for the spirit of man than a mountain of sorrow.

By contrast, many ascetics through the ages, though devout, lived in constant gloom. Their endless self-denial and sternness often frightened more than it inspired. The world may have respected their rigor, but it rarely felt lifted by their sadness. Their heavy spirits remind us of Fuller’s truth—that sadness, though it may be noble, often weighs the soul down, while joy lifts it heavenward.

O children of tomorrow, take this lesson to heart: let your faith, your work, and your service be clothed with cheerfulness. Even in hardship, let joy kindle within you like a lamp, for in that light others will find strength. Remember Fuller’s words: an ounce of cheerfulness outweighs a pound of sadness, for God is better served by glad hearts than by gloomy faces. Let your joy be your offering, and it will rise like sweet incense before heaven.