Simple Joy

Depending on which version of the Bible you read the word joy appears about 200 times. Anything written about that many times is definitely worth a ponder. Have you ever really thought about what brings you joy? A feeling of happiness, delight or gladness can be found in many things. The warm sun on your face, the smell of flowers blooming in spring or laughter of a child can insight happy feelings from deep within. What brings us joy is as unique as our fingerprints. Where we are similar is how the "joys" make us feel. Joy is an essential part of a healthy life. Simple joys are the little things that make us happy. Queue the lyrics from "My Favorite Things." Yup, I hear that in my head as I type and it is making me smile.

Some days are overworked and over scheduled. When that pressure comes down like a ton of bricks, we can retreat into a thought pit. Anxious, negative and stress laden thoughts swarm us like gnats on a hot summer day. The next time you get bogged down with the daily grind or get caught praying to the god of busy, take a joy break. Steal away a few moments when you can push those thoughts away and think on those things that bring us joy. Take a Selah, if you will. Now these mini breaks in our day where we stop and appreciate what is before us, behind us or what we are fond of takes practice. I have often suggested setting a timer on your phone to pick one thing during that time frame for which we are grateful. It helps to shift our focus from the troubling and mundane parts of our day to a lighter, happier mind. What we focus on helps shape our outlook. I know I've said it before but the words of Philippians 4:8 apply here as well. So go ahead and practice fixing your thoughts on what is true, honorable, lovely, right, pure, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Take time to stop and enjoy the simple joys of day. Cultivate a grateful heart.

Psalms 118:24 states, "This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it."