JOY...not YOJ

Joy is at the forefront of my mind. Trying to choose it, live it and of coarse show it. I speak of joy daily. I think of ways to implement it in my family's life. We are even using it as a topic in the Teen Sunday School class we are teaching currently. We had a funny conversation about JOY recently.

We were talking about how JOY can be an acronym for JESUS, OTHERS, YOU...the order in which we put Jesus and Others above our own wants. We joked about be selfish and having YOJ... or the opposite of Joy. Always putting yourself before anyone else is our sinful nature. It is how we are sinfully wired. Me Me Me. And no I am not singing right now. It's hard not to want what we want and want it right now in today's culture.

Later in the week I was still thinking about YOJ, and I also decided it could simply mean You're Out of Joy. I feel YOJ this week. My Joy is low. My hopes feel depleted. My light feels dim. It's not one specific reason, but a lists of everyday trials and simply being tired and burnt out.

I've tried to spend extra time in my Bible, and I am intentionally praying and talking with God before my feet hit the floor. I am putting forth the effort to see the Joy and the good in even bad and stressful situations. And that is all we can do. We are going to have YOJ days. There will be Blah days, hard days, sad days, cloudy days, and low hope days. But we keep putting one foot in front of the other. We smile when we feel gloomy. We read our Bible when our hearts feel heavy. We do something kind for someone else when we would rather curl back up and get in the bed. That's what Showing Joy is all about.

I made myself a Showing Joy t-shirt a few years back. I am making it available here. When I have been full of YOJ I pull this shirt out and it makes me smile. Sadly the yellow color is no longer available, but there are plenty of other cute colors. I hope you see the joys today and show some joy as well.