(Jesus prayed): “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
John 17:13-14
I love spring. It is my favorite season – allergies and all. I love the sights and smells of spring all around me. The flowers fill me with joy.
As I was on my usual walk from the parking lot to the office, I was thinking about how happy I am this season. (well, not today. Today I’m not happy cause I made a mistake a work and have been unable to fix it and so I’m all angry and grumpy and want to kick someone.)
But anyway…
I met some friends today for lunch. They are traveling from MI to upstate NY and where I work isn’t too far off the route for them, so we met at the Cleveland Art Museum. We grabbed a bite from the cafe then headed outside with their children to eat and let the kids run around.
I sat with them and talked and watched the kids explore and was able to take a deep breath and smell the flowers. I watched people walking around. Listened to the sounds of children playing around us.
And I found my joy.
My goal for this week is to focus on that joy. If I can remember that and focus on that then I’ll be moving in the right direction.
It’s hard sometimes. I know that Jesus wants me to be happy so I feel guilty when I’m NOT. And then I don’t talk to Him because I’m not wanting to dump all over God when there is so much good in my life and I’m in the doldrums and not seeing it. Which is totally not the point. I’m trying to remember that He wants to hear it all – good, bad, ugly, happy, joyous – everything.
So for today – I’ll smell the flowers and look at how beautiful the earth is as it’s waking up (and the lilacs are blooming, yay!)
Thank you Lord for the beautiful flowers that remind me of the joy You have for us. Help me hold on to that joy as I face struggles in my daily life. Amen.