I will be joyful when.....
*I need to go somewhere, but my van has no gas and I wasn't the last person to drive it - even though I always try to return other vehicles with a full tank. - I will be joyful because I have a vehicle to drive and it's not empty because we don't have the money.
*my husband goes to the grocery store for me, but buys the wrong brand of several things because he doesn't know what I eat for breakfast. - I will be joyful because my husband went to the grocery store for me and that's one less thing I have to do.
*when my husband is able to go to church with us even though he wakes up 10 minutes before we need to leave and it ends up adding to my to-do list. - I will be joyful because he's going to church
*I check my daughter's diaper to see if it's dirty, only to get poop on my fingers. *disgusting* - I will be joyful because I have a healthy daughter that will be potty-trained one day.
*someone requests that I not do something a certain way despite the fact they do exactly what they're asking me NOT to do. - I will be joyful because I will use their "constructive criticism" as a measure of becoming a better person.
*when my 4 year old refuses to read anything despite his ability to. - I will be joyful because that means I get to read another bedtime story to him at night.
*I wake up the morning after Thanksgiving at 2:10 a.m. and 4 a.m., stay awake for at least an hour each time to only finally wake up at 6:30 for the day because I'm sick. - I will be joyful because the interrupted sleep gave me time for devotions and did not take away from the time I got to spend with my family (they were sleeping).
As I thought of more things to add to the list, I realized the word joyful could be interchanged with the word thankful very easily. I even thought about changing this post to "I Will be Thankful", but then realized it takes a lot more effort to be joyful than it does to be thankful. I can find a handful of things to be thankful for in almost any situation, good or bad, but finding a joyful spirit isn't always easy. Although I didn't take the time to look up definitions on Wikipedia, to be thankful, one must give thanks. Giving thanks can be very simple and can come from the most reluctant person. Joy on the other hand is an outward expression of an inward feeling (of something to be thankful for). Unlike being thankful, joyfulness can be spotted by complete strangers. It can present itself by a smile, a hug, or even a tone of voice.
Being joyful in all circumstances isn't always easy. When I started this post a couple of days ago, I was challenged by my own writings and found myself less than joyful, although I was always thankful. I soon realized being joyful is a decision, but can be really hard to express during difficult times. Luckily, I heard a song today that brings joy to my heart which allows me to express it more openly to others.
"It's me, It's me, It's me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer." (Repeat)
Not my brother or my sister (father or mother), it's me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer"
I heard it while listening to one of K's CDs today. It seems as though every time I realized I wasn't smiling, I could sing that song and my disposition would change and I could feel joyful again. I was singing it so much today that K even started singing it. It's amazing what praising the Lord can do for one's soul.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16
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