Stealing Joy

Who in the world steals joy? Believe it or not it is very easy to steal someone’s joy. You can rob it from yourself if you’re not careful by having a bad attitude, but it is even easier to steal someone else’s joy. How often have we been under enthusiastic over someone else’s achievements? How often have we tried to one-up someone’s adventure or catastrophe in the telling? How many times have you said, “oh yeah, I knew that’ or Oh yes, I did that one time. blah blah blah”. I am just as guilty as any of you. Our mouths fly open and hatred, anger, jealousy, indignation, uncompassionate words, come flying out.

I’ll never forget a day when a teacher buddy came to school in a new pair of Crocs. This was right when Crocs shoes were new to the market. We were sitting on the playground, I, with a teacher’s overloaded brain, just burst out that “I could never wear those. I thought they were the ugliest shoes I had ever seen!” I immediately slapped my hand over my mouth and began apologizing. It was too late. That horse had already left the barn. Thankfully she was a kind friend and accepted my apology but I will never forgot that moment. The look on her face. I had trampled all over her joy and did it without thinking. And, in case you might be wondering, I did eventually end up with a pair of Crocs. Guess she got the last laugh.

Did I actually steal her joy? Well, yes, for a moment anyway. What I did was bruise the joy that was already there. Bruised joy has to heal and be replaced with moments that nourish it instead of tear it down, help to build it back up. But you know what else I left behind? I left my friend with the fact that I had used my words to hurt her feelings. That is not easily repaired. Our sin nature is always lurking around, waiting for the perfect moment to pop out.

Staying in God’s word, having daily Bible time, praying are all ways to help curb that sin nature and keep it from popping out. I was embarrassed that I had said such a thing. How often do we say things so flippantly that we don’t even realize the impact it has had on those around us? Very often our words are what can cause the most damage, especially words tinged with anger or jealousy.

1Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

John 10:10 The thief(Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I(Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Let this be our prayer as we work to give joy instead of stealing it.

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Amen