JOYFUL
IN THE MIDDLE of last century, the chaplain in the U.S. Senate was a clergyman named William Henry Channing. One night with pencil and paper on his right knee he composed this formula for living:

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with an open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common.”

To be JOYFUL depends wholly on our attitude about life. If we don’t take one’s self too seriously, we open ourselves to the joy in the simple events that happen everyday.

Joe Osteem says: “If you can tap into this joy, you will be happy.”

Joy is a New Day
Awakening the bird to sing a tune,
Kissing the flower to open a bloom,
A light in the sky so that it glows,
Making sunrays that fashion shadows.
Joy is Rain
Falling like teardrops drenching the earth,
Refreshing our lives to give rebirth,
Never a cloud, but the sun can shine through,
Giving rainbow colors in every hue.
Joy is Trust
In what comes tomorrow.
Sunshine without rain is life without sorrow,
Accepting all things come what may,
Having faith in God is the only way.