Life Through the Lens: Joy to this little corner of the world

Joy to the World is much more than a Christmas carol.

Along a walking path here in Murray Bridge, over the months, the fairy garden pictured above has grown.

I assume small hands have lovingly and with care added small, what many would consider worthless trinkets, but they have been placed with care and love and have brought joy to others.

How do I know?

I have watched as hurrying footsteps have slowed, stopped, and smiles of joy have changed faces.

We live in a society and age when we tend to focus on grand things: the grand plan, the grand gesture, the grand house, car, yacht, the grand business venture, the grand salary.

So often, in chasing the grand, we forget the priceless blessing of joy.

It is so easy to miss the joys that money and greatness cannot give: the joy brought with a partner’s loving smile, an arm around the shoulders, the shared laughter of friends, the consoling look that says “I understand” in times of sadness, the warmth and trust of a small child’s hand quietly sliding into yours – joys that cannot be measured.

A joy that we seldom recognise or think about is the simple fact a loving God planned that joy should be one of the default emotions of people.

But his love for people is so great that even when we turn our back on him, he does not remove our ability to experience joy.

Sadly, without his involvement, the joy we might experience is fleeting and can fade away.

Complete and never-ending joy comes with believing God’s love is unconditional and never-ending.

Paul was a follower of Jesus and a believer in our loving God.

Paul spent time in a Roman prison, and it is believed he may have died by beheading.

He was able to write, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 15:16-18).

God’s will for you is to have heaps of joy in your life and share with others that joy.

Have a week of smiling from the heart.

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