Joy- this is my "word" for the year. Back in January, everyone was deciding on their words, a sort of new years resolution with a bit more meaning than the usual "I'm gonna loose 10 pounds." I loved the idea but had a hard time settling on a word of my own. Then I walked into Sunday school and was handed the study titled "discovering joy". Yup, that was it.
I read every article I could get my hands on, searched many websites, read and reread every verse on joy I could find in my concordance, but still longed for that clear and simple "formula".
Talking it over with the girls one night, I expressed this to them and Courtney plainly said "Jesus first, others second, yourself last."
"Hmm?"
"What, you've never heard of that?"
"Uh, no, I haven't."
(Roaring laughter at my sake)
"The J stands for Jesus, put Him first in your life. The O stands for others, do for others next, then Y for yourself. Then you will find joy."
I just love the way a child can take something so complicated and make it so simple.
So that's (only a small part of) my story on discovering joy.
While reading No Greater Joy, (not a book on joy, but on child rearing) I found a wonderful quote that I would like to share...
"Look into the face of your child and smile. Let your child look into your face and see someone delighting in their presence. Don't withhold your joy on the condition that your child earn your smile. Who deserves a good friend? Who deserves the Savior's love? ... Don't just smile at your kids; smile into them; smile through them. Let joy flow, and your family will be swept along in the current."
Click here for updates on everyone else's words for 2009
4 comments:
What an encouragement. I am always amazed at how much you have grown as a Christian in only six short years!! You are continually a blessing to me.
I love what you've shared here. I love the joyful pictures. I love, love, love that quote. Looks like another good one to put up in my house somewhere.
No wonder we had such a good time together the other day - we're a perfect blend of joy and contentment now. ;)
The Joy of the Lord is the cure of all woes ! Especially woe is mes. Great Word.
Hey, I must have missed this post! I love your new header and what you wrote. What a good word and your pictures capture it perfectly. You're such a wonderful artist.
Wonderful words and pictures.
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