Yesterday I had a student come up to me all excited. “Mrs. George, I brought joy to my friend!”

I repeated what I thought I heard to make sure I heard her right. “You brought joy to your friend?”

“Yes!” my student said excitedly.

Then she proceeded to share how she brought her friend joy by inviting her to read with her after her friend had been disappointed about something.

Bringing joy to others.

What a beautiful thought and practice.

I share this with you today to invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

In this season of giving, may we think beyond the thing in which we give, and consider if we are bringing joy to others. And maybe it isn’t even something we bring to someone that will bring them joy. Maybe bringing joy to someone is giving them our presence, and even reading beside them, as was the case with my students.

With love and joy,

Shawn

“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

- Matthew 2:9-10