Me

 Joy. 

Joy is a feeling we don’t often speak about. We like talking about being “happy” or “feeling good.” Joy is deeper. Joy is so deep. Joy isn’t comfortable or easy but joy is life changing.

 In my opinion, being truly joyful roots from being truly grateful. 

Am I grateful for my breakfast? Am I grateful for my bed and my cup of coffee? Am I grateful for the boots on my feet? There was a time when I didn’t feel very joyful, and it is because I wasn’t grateful for the beautiful things I 

had in my life. Beautiful things don’t always have to be material items.  It can be someone smiling at you, or having a close friend or family member spend time with you. It can be seeing your animals at the end of a work day or watching seasons change. 

Being truly joyful starts with being truly grateful. 

Being joyful doesn’t mean we prance around all the time without a worry in the world. But it DOES mean to choose joy. To be grateful for the little things. I feel so grateful for every little thing. For every conversation, every morning. Every sunrise and every rainfall. (I will admit I may not be grateful for snow.) 

If you died tomorrow, would you die knowing you lived with joy? Would you die knowing you died with a grateful heart? 

I used to not care about dying because I didn’t care about living. Now that I live. Now that I am grateful. Now that I have joy. I don’t care if I die because I know I have lived. 

I live because I know Jesus is with me. I know that I am fearlessly loved exactly as I am. I know I am beyond thankful for the gratitude and joy I asked Him to put in my heart. 

THAT is the game changer. I know the joy giver. I know the joy giver because he saved my life and it overwhelmed me with gratitude. My gratitude for Him brought me joy for life. And with it, joy to live.