Joy

Today, enjoying my coffee with Jesus, I am reminded that joy and happiness are two different things.  Happiness is good but it is temporary.  Joy is that deep connection with our Lord that brings peace, even when everything is not going well.  Joy brings peaceful assurance of God‘s presence.  My awareness of joy and the blessings that God brings can make a regular day a day full of blessings.

I experienced a deep joy yesterday when I watched a newborn baby and his family walk over to their grandparents’ house on our block.  A week before, the child was still inside his mother, and today, he is here and the family was so full of joy.  The gift of receiving joy, which comes from God, is that we have to share it.  Then it becomes contagious.

Today, experience the joy that only God can bring.  And then share it, share it with your spouse, share it with your children, share it with someone who may need to hear from you today.  For this is the day the Lord has made (and it is full of joy), let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 And don’t forget to share it!