Joy and Delight
Joy – a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; the emotion of great delight dictionary.com
Delight- a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy, rapture dictionary.com
Joy and delight need each other. Joy and delight work together. The two enter any given day and the results are amazing.
Take a day in my life recently. It was just an ordinary day but one single word echoing through the school hallway was all it took to change an ordinary day into an extraordinary day.
God has protected me and provided for me in amazing ways recently. This particular morning another blessing came my way through a student named Jordan. My step was hesitant, my heart weak from the emotional loss of my mom and my brain was not even sure what day of the week it was. But God knew – He knew that a broken heart needed delight. God knew that stepping back into reality in which nothing felt the same would be difficult. God knew that one word from one student would make all the difference.
That morning as I stepped through the classroom doorway into the hallway to greet my students a single shout of “YAY” echoed through the quiet hallway. You see Jordan’s single word reflected the pure emotion of delight since she had not seen me for two weeks. A bear hug followed and the smiles and hugs of the rest of my students reflected the joy they were feeling too. Joy and delight work together in harmony to instill God’s delight in all who come into contact with it.
Jordan’s spontaneous delight became my joy. Her shout of “YAY” sent an echo of delight to all who were standing in the hallway and joy was shared in that moment. God delights in these moments with us and reflects His presence to those experiencing the joy. He knows how joy can heal and increase the process of moving ahead when the next step feels like the most difficult thing you will do that day. God protects our hearts by giving us just what we need when we need it. God did all of this for me as I was transitioning back into reality after losing my mom. God knew and He came through in a big way as He always does.
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
God takes delight in us and through this delight our fears are calmed. I am strengthened by hearing the above words and my heart heals knowing that God is delighting over me in my sadness, in my joy or in whatever else I am experiencing. God is our mighty savior and allowing Him to fill us with moments of delight will take us forward on our journey to knowing Him and His truths more deeply.
Blessings to all today! May you find delight today and as you do may your joy reflect
back to someone else!
Mary
Linking up this year with Ann Voskamp’s 2014 Joy Dare. Find the link up at A Holy Experience. Counting blessings daily will bless you immeasurably! JoyDare #100-120
- God’s reassurance that I’m never alone, walking with a friend after work, blessing of a new week
- Comfort food for dinner,snow and ice storm blowing outside but I’m safe inside,twitter party with my MTC sisters
- Starting my day with God,talking to a friend recovering from surgery-a blessing for all,time to write, pray and reflect
- Extra time to enjoy my coffee this morning,pristine,white snow untouched by all creatures,Mexican chicken/bean pizza-yum
- Work week complete,anticipation of Saturday joy laced with an extra cup of coffee,sun shining to chase away the gray
- Workout on the elliptical getting a little easier, time to pamper myself, fabulous birthday dinner with my sons
- Sunday morning quiet time, accomplishing all the little things today, preparations made for the new week
Linking with:
So sorry about your loss Mary…but isn’t God good to send us “little things”, even a big “YAY!” that can make our day a whole lot brighter. Praying for you that God will continue to strengthen your heart and bring comfort through the wonderful memories you have tucked away of your mother. ♥
God continues to bless me each day and sneaks in these reminders of delight when I need them most. Thank you for stopping by and blessing me with your prayer.
What an amazing thing for Jordan to do! And it’s a small but courageous thing like that that can bring “joy” as you’ve said to our discouraged day, Mary. I could picture you in that moment–your hurting heart being buoyed to the surface of the waves of grief, even if only for a moment. Thanks for sharing that intimate moment with all of us and reminding us of the power of simple acts of love and kindness to those in our lives, my friend. Praying you feel His comfort being shown in the acts of the “hands and feet” of His children.
Your visit and words blessed me today. God’s comfort comes at perfect times and parallels the waves of grief that are unexpected and sudden.
Yay! What a simple comment that brings such joy. How gracious of Father to give you exactly what you needed. Thanks for sharing your story at Testimony Tuesday, Mary!
God’s grace is abundant and I pray we always remember to receive the gift that is freely given. Blessings!
I love you list… and so thankful that He knew what you needed and provided it in abundance! Prayers for you as you count on!
God provides and walks by our sides holding us up whenever we need it. Thank you for stopping and blessings in this new day!
Well said Mary! It is the little joys that do pull us back to living. And children seem to be the bearers of that joy so often!
Cathy-Thanks for stopping by! Children do bring much joy but I hope we are open to joy always because our lives will be so much more delightful!