From a Christian perspective, “fu” is also something to be grasped. It links-up with other characters to mean bless (zhu-fu), blessedness (fu-ze), good news and gospel (fu-yin), and evangelism (fu-yin zhu-yi). In the Beatitudes, the character (you-fu-le) appears nine times and means blessed is.
Its radical on the left is the God or Spirit radical, and on the right, there is a one or first, a mouth (which represents a person), and a field or garden. God alone with the first man (Adam) in a garden (Eden) is certainly a good way to depict happiness.In the Book of Revelations, eternal blessing is promised when God Himself will dwell with His people in the new Jerusalem "laid out like a square" (garden). There will be true happiness—no more tears, death, mourning, crying or pain.
The first man was alone with God soon after he was created. And the "last Adam"—Jesus Christ—in His last few hours as Man, was also alone with God in another garden, in Gethsemane. Although this was His most sorrowful moment, Jesus needed time alone with His Father. It prepared Him to die for us and set us free spiritually.
Happiness is found in seeking and being with the Lord, whatever our circumstances may be. In Jeremiah 29, the Lord said: "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." That is the heart of God: He is our Father; He longs for us to seek Him and to know Him. The best way of doing this is by spending time alone with Him, in our spiritual garden. That is the greatest place of blessedness.
May the New Year bring you this blessing and happiness in your fellowship with the Lord.
Yinghuo Chong