Joy to the World!

This song has meant a lot to me ever since Christmas 2004. That was the day my husband proposed to me. He put my ring in a music box that played this song. It looked like a matchbox and when you pushed out the one side the little ice skaters went in a circle and the music played. The funny thing is he had showed me the box just 2 days prior at the store and asked if I liked it. However, I was in the middle of choosing some other gifts, so I wasn't really paying attention and I was like "whatever" when he showed me. He had already bought one, he just wanted to see what I thought. So I felt a little bad about that, but it really was sweet. :)

I still have the box and I think about that day every time I hear that song. On Christmas Eve we watched "The Preacher's Wife" with family, and I think Whitney Houston's version of this song is my favorite. (See video below).

So, what is joy exactly? It defined as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something, or the expectation of something, exceptionally good". My Pastor talked about this today at church...and it was HILARIOUS! There is something so fun and freeing to be able to just laugh (even at yourself) and enjoy life! I'm finding that filling myself with joy, and acting like I'm happy (even if I might not be) not only makes me feel better, but it can be contagious! I might not be able to change other people's situations, but I can at least try to make them smile. That could change their whole day! I remember a few years ago, 2 nights before Christmas, my husband and I went out to dinner. We recognized a waitress we had had before, but she didn't serve us that night. When we had her a few months earlier she was pregnant and the father was out of the picture. Right before leaving the restaurant we got this feeling that we wanted to give her something. Just being married and substitute teaching didn't leave us with a lot of money; all we had left was a $5 bill. So we went to her and said, "We know this isn't much, but we'd like to give it to you to for your daughter. Merry Christmas!" She took it and said, "Thank you" as we went for the door. I took one last glance toward her and saw her crying happy, thankful tears.

I know it wasn't much, but I think it was just the fact that 2 complete strangers remembered her and her situation and wanted to bless to her with what we had. And guess what? It made our night too. To see her face and to know we had helped in a small way - wow! It just makes you feel so good! A smile, a small gift, a kind word...all these things can bring joy to a person and to yourself. This is one of the ways I want to keep the Christmas spirit going all year.