Joy is a choice.....

Today I have been thinking a lot about the sunrise and what it represents.  Over the past few months I have been waiting for “joy to come.”  Like the song says, “joy comes in the morning.”  However today as I sat and watched the sunrise at 7:27am I thought about it and decided that joy is a choice.  It is not something that we wait for but something we choose in that moment.

I admit that I haven’t seen much joy in my own world lately.  But why haven’t I?  It is simply because I am waiting for joy to come and not choosing joy in the moment.  I can honestly say this will not be easy to do, but what is the alternative to joy?  The alternative or opposite of joy is “sadness, sorrow, unhappiness or woe.”  I have to ask myself how that has been working out for me. 

Psalm 30:5 tells us that “weeping may endure for a night, but Joy Comes in the Morning.”  I challenge you today to find YOUR JOY. 

For me I have to start with moments.  I know that helping and educating others is my passion and my joy.   Here are some other things that bring me joy in the moment. 

1.   Hearing my children laugh
2.   Making a difference in the lives of others
3.   Random Acts of Kindness
4.   Educating others on issues of social injustice
5.   Seeing my mom smile
6.   My husband kissing me goodbye every morning
7.   Quotes of encouragement
8.   Centerpoint church
9    New adventures (big or small)
10.  Sunflowers and quarters

What are ten things that bring you joy?

What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.   Let’s work together and find our joy.  Why wait?  It is a choice and we can make the choice to be happy.  As I can attest, the alternative doesn’t work out so well.

There is a season for everything.  Even when we have a storm, we can find joy in moments and dance in the rain!