Spreading Joy

It’s now Day 5 of this series and I realized that I mostly covered this portion of Joy on Day 4. However, let's remind ourselves of a few things. God’s word tells us that "it is more blessed to give than receive" and that "God loves a cheerful giver". If you are giving of yourself or time out of obligation then are you a cheerful giver? If you are giving so that others see you giving, are you doing so with the hopes of being blessed or hoping someone will give back to you? Examine yourself. Do you give of yourself because you want to or because you have to? How do you react when someone asks you to give of your time or tangible thing? As you examine your daily routines, does your joy flow out to those around you? Do they feel God’s love when you are near? I pray that they do. If today was not the best day for you, it’s okay. Talk to Jesus and let it go. Tomorrow is a new day and a new beginning. Find a way to spread a bit of joy. Speak the cashier’s name when checking out, pay for someone’s lunch in the drive-thru line. Complement someone on a nice outfit or a job well done. Once you start, you will find hundred’s of ways to acknowledge those around you with a tiny bit of joy.

Now for the rest of the story! I told you it was coming... I was sitting and enjoying my cup of coffee and thinking on what devotions I wanted to write next. Like a lightening bolt it hit me to write about JOY. Joy to the World, I’ve Got Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart, songs popped into my head and I immediately wrote down the 5 titles I used this week. I always start with a title and the rest follows. As soon as the titles were written, I knew I had to have two poems. I called my friend and poet Kathy Crouch. I simply said I need a poem about Joy and new beginnings. That’s all. Nothing else. She had no idea what I would write and I had no idea what she would write. But God did! I hope you go back and reread Tuesday’s devotional and poem now that you know the rest of the story. Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present. Open and share your gift and joy today. But, remember that when you wake up, it’s a new day and you get to start all over again. Let everyday be a new day filled with joy.

A New Day

God’s steadfast love never ends; each day His mercies are new.

The past is the past… let it go; it’s a new day for me and for you.

Each day is a new beginning, the past slowly fades away.

Yesterday’s trials are over, and today is a much brighter day.

A day filled with new opportunities, a day for the weary at heart.

Praise the Lord who bears our burdens, and gives us a brand-new start.

May we all find rest in the morning, as we rise and humbly pray.

Thank you, God, for this new beginning, thank you God for a blessed new day.

Kathy M. Crouch

This right here was the most perfect example of spreading joy. The little boy wanted some flowers for his Sunday School teacher who had been under the weather. His sister wanted them for her grandma. Not only did they share joy in their act of kindness, I received joy in the form of smiles and hugs as they cut blooms from my garden. Joy for you and me!