This past weekend we had a fun time at Matt’s first Memorial Day soccer tournament. During the weekend, that was packed with fun games and family time, Stephen and I met the most joyful person.
This tournament was packed and parking was crazy. In our walk to the field, from a trail in the woods where we parked, we came across a gentleman who was one of the parking attendants. We had a lovely conversation with him. Here was this man, in the woods solo most of the day, yet there was nothing but joy and contentment exuding from him, even in the heat with bugs flying around.
Our interaction with him was a reminder to me that joy isn’t something we acquire with a title, an amount of money or with some-thing. Joy is available within at all times as it is not something that is based on our circumstances. Joy grows from what we are rooted in.
I share this with you today to invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.™
May we not allow our circumstances to determine our hearts posture. Instead, may we root our thoughts in God’s Word. John 15:5 tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit,” including the fruit of joy. May we remember joy is available to us each day and can grow within our hearts through our relationship with God.
And like this man reminded me, it’s a blessing to share that joy with others too, even through a quick conversation.
And as we walked away from this man that day, he called out, “God bless you two.” And when he said that I smiled because I knew where his joy and contentment came from.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit,”
- John 15:5