Today's prompt is:
JOY
START
We live in a world today that is always talking about personal happiness; about doing things for yourself, about “finding” yourself. There is nothing wrong with personal happiness, in its right context. We may think we are happy when we are really being selfish. Happiness is never about who we are. It always is about what we are doing and who we are helping.
joy
noun \ˈjȯi\
: a feeling of
great happiness
: a source or
cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone
: success in
doing, finding, or getting something
2 Nephi
2:25 ….men are, that they might have
joy.
I love that our
Heavenly Father wants us to have joy, not just happiness. I love that joy is more than just being
happy. I love that it is greater than
happiness could ever be. I believe that
Joy only comes from doing what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. It comes as we seek Him and strive to follow
His example in all the parts of our lives.
Joy is the
middle name of one of my daughters, and one of my granddaughters. They love their name. I love it too. I gave that name to my daughter because I
waited so long for the blessings of these last girls. I wanted her so much. I wanted her to understand that she was and
is always a joy and a blessing to us.
When I think of
joy, I think of something a little extra.
I think of something added upon.
Being happy is wonderful, but being filled with joy is something really
special. I wanted her to know that she
has always been really special to our family.
Being filled is
like having no room for any other feeling.
Having no room for anything else.
Joy fills us right up. It covers
our spirits and our souls. It is so much
happiness that we can hardly contain it all.
Joy is a gift from our loving Father to each and every one of us. All we need to do is seek Him. When we find Him, we will also find our joy
in serving Him.
“One ship sails east.
One ship sails west.
Regardless of how the winds blow,
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.”
(Author unknown)
One ship sails west.
Regardless of how the winds blow,
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.”
(Author unknown)
STOP
Now, what can you write in just five minutes?
I really enjoyed your writing. What a great story about giving your daughter the middle name Joy. What a loving thing to do - remind her every day, or at least every time she uses her middle name - of the great joy our Lord gives us. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteLovely. I love this sentence: I believe that Joy only comes from doing what our Heavenly Father wants us to do.
ReplyDeleteYou are a follower of Jesus ... doing what He wants us to do.
Found you from FFM - I am late too.
Blessings and joy,
Janis