Choose Joy

Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering.  It is the presence of God. - Sam Storms

I remember the first time my son smiled as a baby.  The moment he smiled, I became lost in an overwhelming sea of happy, messy tears.  My precious boy had the exact same smile of my sister-in-law.  The curl of his little lip and the twinkle of his brown eyes reflect a beautiful soul whom left this world too soon at the age of 23.  Every time my sweet teenage boy smiles, my heart rejoices.  I believe that smile is a gift from God, a gentle reminder of Andrea's beautiful spirit.  At his recent cross-country banquet, Landon earned many awards; however, there is one award that captured my heart.  The "Best Smile" award went to a gentle soul who radiates joy every day of his life.  The "Best Smile" award captured the gentleness of a giving person who finds joy in making homemade guacamole for others, creating artwork for his great grandfather, and hosting church friends in an event he created, "a Friendsgiving." Landon chooses joy.

I am blessed to serve as an integral part of a ministry distributing food to those in need throughout our community.  This past week, we arrived and parked in a nearby mobile home park.  As we unloaded different kinds of bread, buns and crackers, something caught my eye.  Near the bottom of the crate was 3 boxes of delicious donuts.  As residents of this community gathered to select what they would take back to their families, 2 moms and a precious little girl began to talk louder and smile bigger.  They saw the donuts.  Their living conditions are not ideal, and their daily lives reflect a level of hardship many will never understand.  Yet, in that moment, they chose joy.  A simple box of donuts delivered overwhelming joy to their hearts and souls.

Recently, one of my best friends and I ran a familiar path through a local park.  As we came around a corner, my eyes focused on a small row of evergreen trees sparkling and shining in the distance.  Every holiday season, someone decorates these small trees with simple ornaments, garland and tinsel. This precious soul remains unknown.  I imagine his/her life is much like yours and mine at times - messy, complicated and overwhelming.  However, each year, as the holiday season commences, this beautiful decorator chooses joy.

This time of year brings forth so many emotions for all of us.  We find ourselves busy, stressed and wishing there were more hours in each day.  We strive to do it all and measure how we're doing against the actions of others.  Social media affords us the opportunity to constantly compare ourselves to those around us.  Oftentimes, we feel like we're struggling to hold it all together.  God never intended for us to live our lives in this way.  Psalms 16:11 gently reminds us that in His presence there is fullness of joy.  Is your spirit suffering to find peace today?  Are you searching for a way to simply make it through this hectic time of year?  Pause.  Breathe.  Pray.  Gaze at the world around you.  Give thanks in His presence.  Choose joy.  Amen.