JOY!

Joy!

That one little word holds big meaning.  Joy is more than happiness.  It's smiling so hard it hurts, it's a twinkle in the eye, it's a glow that surrounds you.   It is a complex emotion that cannot be easily described.  It is something that has to be experienced. 

On Friday morning we went 'off book' for a bit to talk about what Joy is, where it comes from, and discuss some times when we experienced Joy in our own lives.

We agreed that joyful experiences include the arrival of a baby, weddings, birthdays, and reunions, especially the reunion between loved ones.  But it can also be an individual experience, like giving soccer balls to children who don't have any, your son making you oatmeal when he's home for a visit, like hearing a song on the radio that reminds you of your loved one, like cooking and serving a meal to those in need, and being proud of your child's accomplishment because they have worked so hard!

Joy's complexity is one of the things that sets it apart from happiness.  We've all heard of the saying "tears of joy".  We shed those tears of joy because, besides the happiness we are feeling at the time, there are contradictory feelings of worry, anxiety, concern, disbelief, or doubt leading up to that moment.  Just like in verse 41 of Luke 24, "Still they [disciples] stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder.". 

How is it that we can experience such great happiness at the same time or in such quick succession as these negative or ambivalent emotions? 

God.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  It comes from God.  It is our belief in God that gives us Hope.  Hope is the bridge that moves us from 'negative' emotion to Joy.  It can be a big occasion or an intimate moment.  It can come at the culmination of lots of planning and hard work or it can sneak up on us when we least expect it.  Joy can cause us to laugh & cry, to want to shout to the world or hold it deep in our hearts. 

Joy!  It's a big gift wrapped in a tiny box!  How will you share this fruit of the spirit with others?

Your Partner in Ministry,
Shelly