One Word At A Time: Joy
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:01AM MAD21 By MAD21
Have you ever met someone who just lights up a room? Sometimes without saying a word they make things seem better and brighter.
When I was working in a kindergarten classroom about eight years ago, I had a student who was just that. Rays of sunshine walking in the door. She started attending the school mid-year. I remember the very first moment she walked into the room. There was just something different about her. She had a smile and attitude that would just melt away any negative feelings you may have had before she got there. Each morning she would walk in the classroom with the beautiful grin God gave her as if to say, "I'm here people, how can we have an awesome day?"
Now, before you think this little girl was perfect, let me assure you she was not. We had issues with her from time-to-time, as we would any typical Kindergartner. But for the most part, she was a good kid. You would think that a child with such a good attitude, who was compliant most of the time, would come from a loving, supportive family. But as the year progressed, we learned that she was living in an abusive situation at home. She was the kind of child you wanted to do anything for, and after finding out what she was living with, wanted to do even more.
It's not about you.
I've heard people talk a lot over the years about how joy is not about happiness. There is a lot of truth in that. But to really understand this concept, I think it has to be experienced. You either need to know someone or be someone who has reached a point in their life when they feel true joy no matter what else is going on. To be having the worst day ever, and still have a good attitude. Some people are lucky enough to be born with this joy, others have to strive toward it.
As for myself, I have experienced deep depression a few times in my life. The kind of life-altering darkness only those who have also experienced understand. It's a place without hope. It takes your breath away. But God has worked miracles in my life. I found things to be passionate about. I found joy. No magic potion. No self-help books or new age theology about how I can be all I need to be. Through the darkness, when all was quiet and lonely, I new that God was waiting for me. Even though he was so very quiet, I knew he was still there. When I felt that I had lost everything, I knew that I had not lost him. What else could that be but pure joy?
It's all about Perspective.
I think of some of the hardest decisions/choices I've had to make in my life. The kind where it would have been easy to choose the path away from God. To choose to do something that was the opposite of what I hold to be true and right. The kind of choice where no human would blame me, and some would commend me for making. But the right choice was made regardless of human acceptance, sometimes at the cost of something that was very important to me.
It is in these times when you can feel the worst kind of angst, but still have a heavenly perspective. Understand that the choices we make here in this place can cause us pain, it's only temporary. But the choices themselves are forever. We can feel the grief in having to make a difficult decision, but also feel the deep joy of knowing you did the right thing.
Whether it is a choice you are having to make, or life in general that has you on your knees, know that God is there waiting for you. No matter bad it gets, you can always find joy in knowing our Creator is by your side.
I think of that little girl from my classroom often. I wonder how she is doing after all these years. I pray that God has put people in her life that love her. That she is making good choices in her life in spite of what she has been through. I pray that she continues to hold onto that joy that we saw in her everyday.
This post is a participant in a blog carnival over at Bridget Chumbley's One Word at a Time.
Be sure to go and check out what everyone else wrote on: Self-Control.
Faith, Joy, One Word At A Time in One Word At A Time
Reader Comments (11)
I pray too that joy has lifted her throughout her life and carried her through the difficult times and the happy times.
So true- it's all about perspective! Thanks Ginny.
This post reminds me of Anne Frank and of the joy she found watching the tree outside her window.
I hope that girl, who I suppose should be in eighth grade then, has retained her joy and is still bringing joy to others. It's a gift.
I was a lot like that little girl...except for the girl part...but seriously I can identify with her. Joy is sometimes
a choice we make and when we make it with Him...well, that changes everything. Great post!
Blessings,
Jay
Wow, I wonder how that little girl's doing, too. Thank God she had you as a teacher. Also, thanks for your honesty about depression. I struggle with it, too, and it's difficult for folks who've never had it to understand the heaviness and helplessness it causes. Grateful for you, Ginny!
I truly believe that teachers are put in a child's life for a reason. You were certainly a blessing in this little girl's life. I have written letters to thank teachers and schools counselors for making a difference in my childhood as a positive role model . It's interesting no matter how many students they had over the years...I left a lasting impression :). I enjoyed reading your post.
JoAnne
I know that as much as that girl touched your life... you did the same for her!
I love how you put this:
When I felt that I had lost everything, I knew that I had not lost him. What else could that be but pure joy?
Thank you, Ginny.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments!
I like what you said here, "you can always find joy in knowing our Creator is by your side." May He abundantly bless you and those you love.
My sisters and I grew up in an abusive family. I was the oldest and very intense, dealing with anger on a regular basis. The sister "south" of me by 5 years, the next in line, and I talked a number of years ago about our internal response to "life". Niki always seemed pretty lacking in intensity, and seemed to have a lot of grins -- sounds like the kindergartener you mentioned. We came up with and example of the different way we looked at life: I would wake up and could think, "Oh, ANOTHER day!" in a very discouraged tone. Niki, on the other hand, would say, "OH, another DAY!!!" with excitement and joy. [After healling from the Lord, I can have that joyful tone now -- although I'm still pretty serious, and Niki is one light-spirited person.]