Finding Joy In The Little Things

My knee-jerk reaction was NO.

On a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day, my granddaughter pleaded with me to roll down my car windows.

But why would I want to trade air-conditioned comfort for mugginess, dust, and messy hair?

While I paused to think of an excuse that wouldn’t leave me looking like a grumpy grandmother, I glanced back at my granddaughter’s sweet face filled with disappointment.

And, in that instant, the wind no longer mattered.

So, I let my car windows down.

Joy in the moment

Within seconds I knew I’d made the right choice. My granddaughter’s jubilance was infectious. I couldn’t help but smile as she pointed her face to the wind, batted the air with one arm, and gulped the warm breeze.

Someone said six-year-olds laugh 300 times a day while adults laugh only 15-100 times a day. If that’s true, then I want to be more like a six-year-old.

I want to do more laughing. More chuckling. More smiling.

And why shouldn’t I?

As Christians we should be the most joyful people on earth. After all, we have the amazing privilege of intimacy with Almighty God. When that’s our focus, finding joy in the little things is something that comes naturally. And it’s easier to be thankful even in our most frustrating circumstances.

To be honest, no one will ever be influenced by my religious preferences. But the uninhibited joy that’s mine in Christ? Now, somebody might decide they want a dose of that!

That’s what Paul was talking about when he said “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking [all our shoulds and should nots], but righteousness, peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, HCSB). Finding joy comes not from what we do, but Who we know.

The smile on my six-year-old granddaughter’s face reminded me that my heart can sing all day if I choose to revel in His blessings, even when they come with a little wind in my hair! 😊

Bible Verses about finding JOY!

I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!  (John 15:11, The Living Bible)

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 14:17, Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13, HCSB)

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.  (Galations 5:23, TLB)

We are praying, too, that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens—always full of the joy of the Lord,  (Colossians 1:11, TLB)

You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.  (1 Peter 1:8, HCSB)

Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.  (Jude 1:24-25, HCSB)