Light-hearted Joy!!

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (New International Version)

Be Joyful Always!

Whap…whap…whap…..

…..Bark, bark, bark, barkety, bark, bark!!

From peaceful bliss to Jumbo-jet decibels in a millisecond. I snap my Bible study closed in irritation and reach for the Tylenol. Rushing to the door, I yell, “Shut Up, I said SHUT UP,” thereby pushing the noise meter up still another notch. The dogs cower, heeding the edge in my voice. They wisely lower their ears and retreat to the living room carpet anticipating the opening of the front door.

I unlock the door in time to see a construction worker jogging away from me toward the front lawn. Puzzling? The dogs are now at my heels trying to push their way out the door. Scrambling to get out, while keeping the dogs in, I see my mystery visitor pointing to something in my front yard. It is obviously a large something. He is gesturing wildly and talking at the same time. Of course, I can’t hear a word over the barkety, bark, bark which is in full chorus once again.

Finally, outside, the dogs thankfully inside, I walk out to the yard.

Behold! Old Faithful.

I stare.

I am fairly certain water geysers are an anomaly in Southern California. It’s a stunning display actually. The spout is gushing 20 feet in the air from my very own yard. The droplets sparkle in the blue sky. I am captivated until I notice they are forming a waterfall that is flowing over my neighbor’s freshly washed windows and flooding her immaculate flowerbeds. Ooops! I suppose I will be washing windows later today. *frown*

“Lady, you have a leak.” That’s all he said.

You think? The ugly inside voice speaks as I think about window washing. Arrgh, who is this cranky woman? Get a grip.

“Yes, I certainly do. Thanks for stopping to let me know. I will get it shut off now. Thank you.” I jog to the garage and turn off the broken sprinkler valve.

Back inside with Old Faithful at rest I walk by the dogs. Their disappointment over the unrealized sniff opportunity is still visible. I returned to my desk and this thought hits me. I have a leak… I sprang a leak. These very words I read in my Bible study, they now leap to life. –If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”- Billy Sunday.

Where is my joy? Was it the broken sprinkler or the barking dogs? Did I allow my spiritually mismatched marriage to steal it? The apostle Paul, who suffered immense pain and deplorable conditions, wrote repeatedly about his joy in Christ.

I know that true joy is a gift given through a daily relationship with the Savior and being confident in his provision and of eternal life. I am determined to live in the joy of Christ and not let the circumstances of the day defeat me.

Today let’s rekindle a light-heartedness together. Phil Callaway, Christian humorist, offers some great suggestions to help us relocate our joy: Make friends with optimistic people, thank God for someone else’s good fortune, sing loudly in the car, get help for chores we dislike, plant something each spring, rest on Sunday, learn a clean joke, talk to our neighbors, buy a flower and smell it before giving it away, thank God for the sunset, get enough sleep, and try something new.

With this in mind, tell me a clean joke or share a praise with me and let’s share in the joy of Christ today!!!!! Thank you my friends,

Lord, You are my joy. Let me realize how much You love me everyday and rejoice. You are my everything Jesus. Amen

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