One equation I believe to always be true: a child + a puppy = Joy!

These two beautiful girls are my grand girls, Caroline and Lea. And the puppy? A French Bulldog who lives with my next door neighbors and her name is Luna. We were visiting with them this past Tuesday. My girls, well you can see the delight on their faces, and Luna is actually wiggling with joy! I just had to share this picture, knowing anyone looking at it will smile. Joy can be so contagious!

I had attended a Sunday service at my spiritual Center a few years ago and Reverend Carolyn spoke on the topic of Joy. Reverend Carolyn is retired now but occasionally still speaks at our weekly service. I consider her a dear friend. I will always remember some of the content of her talk that Sunday.

She advised all of us to embrace the idea that Joy is available to us. Even to imagine that “Joy is running down the street to meet us.” What a clear image that brings to my mind. So clear that some days on my prayer walks I open my arms wide and say out loud, “Joy, here I am! Wrap yourself around my life!” And you know, it always works! I immediately feel so joyful. I don’t actually wiggle with Joy like in the picture above with little Luna. But I think I could if I wanted to!

Oh, some days can be tough. I understand. Just yesterday morning I saw a beautiful Lady at the YMCA I have not seen for a few years. It was so good to see her and I told her that. She seemed tired, her body not standing as strong as it used to, her hair a little whiter. I could sense she had been through something challenging in her life. She did not volunteer to tell me and I did not ask. But when I told her I had missed her, she replied, “Sometimes Life has a way of really zapping you. You can’t do what you used to do. I get so tired sometimes just eating breakfast. But, today, here I am, back at the Y.”

I told her again I was so glad she was back. She grabbed my hand and said, “Thank you, Joan. Me, too. And thank you for the kindness, the welcome back.” She smiled then, really smiled, and I could see a quiet Joy in her eyes.

So, yes, I like to think Joy is available to us most days. And maybe it can run the gamut, from a soft smile that reaches the eyes to an outrageous wiggle! A soft tip-toe, or a sideways two-step, or perhaps slowly walking, or maybe skipping, or maybe even a full-out run down the street to greet us… Joy.

c   Love, Joan