#joy

#joy

By Carol Woolum Roberts

#joy

I saw this in the snow this morning on my walk with Cleo.

After a few days of being at home dealing with a full-blown head cold, Cleo and I finally got out to do our morning walk at the resort at Silver Mountain.

My first pleasant surprise was having light in the sky at 5:40 a.m. The days are getting longer.

As Cleo and I headed through a walkway, we got to the end before making a right turn and I saw this written by someone in the snow:

#joy

Often joy and happiness are used interchangeably.  I think they are different. Happiness is caused by something fleeting. Joy is long lasting.

I have been thinking about joy lately. I have been thinking about contentment lately.

A question I have been asking myself lately has to do with joy and contentment.

“Carol, are you content with your life?  Do you have joy?”

If the answer is no, then how can I be content?  How can I have joy in my life?

For me, focusing on joy and contentment take some reminders. I need to do what I am doing right now. I need to write down thoughts in my Sowing Seeds journal. Often listing things in my life that bring me contentment, or that I am thankful for, or that cause joy, bring my thoughts back into focus.

My take on happiness:  it often comes from the quick and easy things.

My take on joy: it often comes from the hard things.

As a follower of Jesus, joy is kind of a big deal. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  As I am filled more with God’s Holy Spirit, it changes and transforms me, and I have more joy…even in the tough times.

Lately I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself.  I have a dream about something I want to do next fall. But all I see are obstacles. And why it will never happen.

That is why my thoughts have been veering toward contentment. I would like to learn to be content in where my life is right now. Maybe that dream will come true, but not right away. Instead of feeling sorry for myself because it may not happen, I want to be content and joyful about what IS happening. 

#joy

Being content and joyful doesn’t mean things are always great, and rosy and positive.  It is just the opposite.  Life is hard, and things are tough. But joy and contentment can be found even in these “this is real life” places.

For me, having a joyful spirit it what often gets me through and gives me the strength I need to make it through what is hard.

We sing a song at church based on the verse in Nehemiah 8:10 that says, “…..for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

#joy

Thank you to whoever wrote that message in the snow. I am glad for the reminder today.

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What helps you be content or joyful?