JOY Moments
We were all gathered around the table for dinner. I had tried so hard to keep our routines the same. To make life without their dad living with us as normal as possible.
And one of our family traditions we called question of the night. We had a set of cards and each we took turns choosing the card for dinner that night and we each had to answer the question.
I’ll never forget that night. We were having dinner as a family, the kids and I, and it was time for the question. I don’t remember who asked the question that night, but I remember how the conversation went.
The question was “King Solomon asked God to give him the gift of wisdom and knowledge. What gift would you ask for?”
I remember going around the table and when it came to my turn I gave an answer, but then I changed my mind. I said I would want the gift of happiness. For everybody to feel happy.
There had been so much sadness and heartbreak in my life and I just wanted to feel happy.
My son, the quiet shy one, who often didn’t have his own answers to the questions each night spoke up.
His response changed the trajectory of my life and I think it could change yours too.
He said, “But if we never know pain or sorrow how will we know what JOY feels like?”
It was like Jesus came into my kitchen to speak to me that night. In an instant I began to feel the weight of the world lift from my shoulders.
And that is where my love of the word JOY began.
Have you ever looked up the definition of JOY? Choosing a feeling of exultant, vibrant happiness in any moment. The recognition of how good things really are.
Finding JOY is a choice. It takes purpose and intention and effort. It takes being willing to feel all the emotions.. The negative and positive ones.
When I realized I had to know suffering intimately to know JOY intimately my perspective changed.
Once I realized I could choose JOY it just started showing up in my life in the most mundane places.
A dinner of cold eggs made by one of my kids. A friend asking me to hang out. A phone call from my sister. Getting a full night’s sleep without being up half the night. Making it through a day without crying.
I’ve been practicing finding JOY moments for 8 years now. And I promise you it gets easier and easier.
I want you to think back over the last 24 hours. Think of something that brought you JOY. It’s there. I promise. You may have to really dig for it, but it’s there.
