CHOOSING joy

Today was…silly. (for lack of a better word)

Today, I woke up late for school. Upon waking up I remembered that I needed to get some stuff done for my loans for going back to school in the fall. This made me a bit frazzled (mostly because I didn’t know what I was doing and money stresses me out).  I texted a teacher at school to let her know I would be a few minutes late. Then after trying to figure it all out for a while, I realized I was an hour and a half late to school! (Goodness gracious!) I still went to school but my heart was still a bit frazzled, mostly just excited anxiety for going back to Point Loma in the fall. As I walked to school and arrived just as break time was starting; I was bombarded with P R E C I O U S 1^st graders, who LOVE to tug on my arms and rub my arm hair. I was once again reminded of the faithfulness of Jesus’ JOY.

JOY is my second most favorite word in the English language (first being BELOVED, another time another post!), simply because you can’t even SAY the word without thinking of something/someone that brings you immense joy.

according to Dictionary.com:

Joy means the emotion of great delight caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying

Happiness means pleasure or contentment

I was watching a tv show here recently where a preacher was talking about joy vs happiness. He said “HAPPINESS IS OUTWARD AND CONDITIONAL, JOY IS INTERNAL AND UNCONDITIONAL”. He continued by adding that “WHEN I CHOOSE JESUS, I AM ALSO CHOOSING JOY”.

As I got to school today, I realized that I never want my thankfulness, joy, and peace in being in Masii to be tainted by how I am momentarily feeling.  There have been days that I have been here, and completely ruined a perfectly good day because I was anxious or frustrated about something happenings 9,000 away that I could do absolutely nothing about.

Something that I think that the tv preacher didn’t press about what LEARNING to have JOY, I think that they statement “when I choose Jesus, I am also choosing joy”, should also imply that like choosing Jesus, choosing joy is a daily cross that we pick up. So maybe “joy is internal (AND external) and unconditional (and renewing each day).

So, today, CHOOSE JOY…

And if you need help, here is a little of my joy to share with you!