Hope

The Gift of JOY

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JOY

I don’t know about you but if we aren’t mindful of it, this time of year can feel anything but truly joy-FULL.

We might dream of sleigh bells ringing, twinkling lights on a perfect tree, a beautiful home filled with presents and our family happily curled up on the sofa to play games together by a crackling fire.

Reality is this season for some people looks more like bill collectors ringing and glaring spot lights on overwhelming to do list. While our family might be playing games … they are playing alone on their laptops. We might be dealing with big life issues like the loss of a job, a relationship, health, or a home or mourning people who are not with us this Christmas.

Our life might not exactly fit the image of a perfect joyful Norman Rockwell Christmas.

But JOY is a matter of perspective.

What are we focusing on?

I miss our fellow (in)courage girl, Sara Frankl, but I reflect on her motto often. Her perspective on joyful living has impacted so many of us.

“CHOOSE JOY”

In spite of Sara’s challenges, her struggles, her physical pain…she chose to find the joy in living. It is a choice, isn’t it? To focus on the JOY? To look for the blessings right in front of us rather than dwell on the imperfection, frustration, struggles or pain?

Life is not picture perfect for most of us, but there is so much joy to be found and shared every day. If I simply LOOK for JOY and then make the effort to SHARE it, I can change my attitude and perspective on what Christmas is all about.

I’m on the lookout now every day for those moments I can take JOY in. I’ve even been taking more pictures lately to help me to focus on the JOY in life. It is a little thing, but it really does help me to SEE and REFLECT on the JOY right in front of me.

The more I dwell on my blessings every day, by God’s grace the more they seem to multiply before my eyes. And by experiencing more joy in my own life, I have more JOY to give away.

Jesus came so that we might have life and live it to the full (John 10:10)!

JOY is a beautiful gift to embrace, celebrate and give away this Christmas!

So, let’s talk about this.

How are you choosing JOY and giving it away this Christmas?

by Melissa The Inspired Room

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Melissa Michaels
About the Author

Melissa Michaels is the NY Times Bestselling author of Love The Home You Have and The Inspired Room book. Her blog, The Inspired Room, was voted Better Homes & Gardens Readers' Favorite decorating blog in 2014 and 2015. Melissa is a church planter's wife and a mom to three human kids and...

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  4. I just found you today and I’ve got to get ready for work, but I will be back! You brought JOY to my day and I you’ll definitely be listed in my GRATEFUL journal tonight… an incredible way to create positive focus on a daily basis.

    Choosing JOY is such an impactful statement. I recently chose to bring JOY to a little boy battling cancer by putting a get well card challenge out to family and friends. It not only brought JOY to him, the act of people joyFULLy heling put a smile on his face with the cost of a postage stamp and a piece of paper helped people really focus on the many blessings they have. Cards have come in from all over the world in the matter of a week.

    As a cancer survivor, I choose JOY every day!

  5. I struggle with the holidays every year and I’m so thankful for this reminder to fight for the joy! I’m going to print off that joy sign and think of you and Sara when I see it!

  7. Thank you! I don’t think we can be reminded of this enough, especially during this season when we are so easily overwhelmed. I love the thought of capturing these moments with photos~ it will make me look even harder for the joy right in front of me.

  8. I agree with another commenter – for me its all about slowing WAY down, enough to notice all the little things going on around my “busyness.” Once I slow down and take note of all of God’s tiny blessings I am more likely to share joy with those around me.

  9. Since I went to bed mad at everyone in my family last night….how appropriate is this message for me?
    I’m not a mean person or even an unhappy one. Sometimes “families” go too far in their picking at each other (and that was the result for me last night).
    Thankfully, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING! Right?

    I’m not going to let satan rob me of my JOY today!

  10. For me it is the stopping and the breathing and the trying to see the JOY already around me but, it is also asking God for help. Sometimes He does all the work!! Last night, I got to have book club at my house and as a way to give to them I asked a girl I disciple to come and sing for us. She is an amazing singer/songwriter. She did and both parties were blessed. They gushed and smiled over her and she got the opportunity to sell some of her CDs (and all of the funds go toward her home church!). I didn’t plan on so much JOY being handed back and forth, but God certainly did. I was blessed to be a participant!

  11. Let me share these words “God is great and God is good” spoken by my cousin whose wife is being cared for by Hospice. He and she have been inspirations to me for a long time . . .

  12. I love the simple thought, “Choose Joy”. The holidays are difficult sometimes for all of us! Melancholy can rear it’s ugly head without notice, and strike. But Joy is the greatest enemy of sorrow, melancholy, or stress. Joyful Christmas, Melissa!

  13. On my blog, “Hope to find” I am sharing positive thoughts about the season. I realize everyone comes to this time of year with a different perspective. I hope to help lead others to finding their inner joy through the celebration of Christ’s birth. By sharing love with those around us we can choose joy, and hope is sure to follow.

  14. Well said! John 10:10 was a life-changing verse in my life so many years ago and continues to be foundational in how I choose to live. For me, living ‘life to the full’ means choosing ‘Joy’ regardless of circumstance….and believe me I have walked ‘through the waters’ these past 3 years. I am grateful that living ‘life to the full’ or ‘joyfully’ is not dependent upon my circumstance. I continue to be empowered by the words of Jesus expressed in John 15:11, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” That’s the kind of joy I want.

    Melissa…May your cup of Christmas joy overflow and splash everyone all around you.

  15. Choosing joy by choosing not to buy into the present buying this year. Giving to those who are truly in need by buying wood for families needed essential heat because they don’t have electricity or gas (yes here in the US)

  16. I have been Choosing Joy this season by helping family and friends put up their decorations. It helps me to focus on what’s really important rather than the daily “sludge” . This has also enable to really see all the blessings God has right in front of me; which is kinda like opening a present , a gift from God.

  17. I definitely agree! I just made Christmas ornaments from polymer clay – JOY: the first and last letters are just the letters and “O” is a wreath. These ornaments are for friends and family.

  18. I absolutely agree, Melissa. I have perfect scenarios dancing in my head of what the Christmas season should look like; I am always disappointed! In the chaos and busyness we need to keep Christmas simple–about Christ, period.
    I am finding making an effort to notice and be thankful for those hidden blessings or the ones we typically overlook has helped me be joyful despite the disappointments and rush. Thankfulness in Christ = Joy in Christ.
    Thanks for a great post.

  20. I’m soaking in all the extra time I get with my kids while on maternity leave! Oh, and I got The 1000 Gifts app – I love it!!

  21. “Choose Joy” is a phrase that I know associate with the lovely Sara. Definitely is a phrase to live by especially during the darkest moments. But it is also a bright focus point during the good times. I may be a complete dork but when I think of the word ‘joy’ I think o it with sparklers lit around it! 🙂

  22. I have been disappointed these last few years. It seems we go from Halloween right into Christmas gift buying & forget Thanksgiving & the real meaning of Christmas!
    It is hard to get into the Joy/Christmas spirit especially this year for some reason.

    One nice thing is that my in-laws inite my widowed father over for dinner on Thanksgiving and Christmas. That realy means a lot to me for him not to be alone at this time of year.

    I will try to put Joy into Christmas this year, relax more, & remember the real reason for the season!!

    • I have been disappointed these last few years. It seems we go from Halloween right into Christmas gift buying & forget Thanksgiving & the real meaning of Christmas!
      It is hard to get into the Joy/Christmas spirit especially this year for some reason.

      One nice thing is that my in-laws inite my widowed father over for dinner on Thanksgiving and Christmas. That realy means a lot to me for him not to be alone at this time of year.

      I will try to put Joy into Christmas this year, relax more, & remember the real reason for the season!!

  23. I am with YOU, I choose JOY!! I think it is definitely a choice and by not choosing JOY, because let’s face it, JOY comes from GOD, Happiness comes from happenings and are only momentary,but JOY is a way of life, it is entwined deep inside of us. WE are the only one that keeps it at bay. JOY it is for me and to me it is telling GOD thankyou when I am joyful, when I am not, it is like a spoiled child that says it is never enough!!
    JOY it is and Merry Christmas to YOU, Melissa,
    Kathysue

  24. Thank you for this reminder. I too wrote down “Choose Joy — Look for Joy” and posted it on my computer and will around my house. I was down this morning, thinking about the problems in my life, and God brought me to this blog. I want to add room on the “Joy” sign to list the everyday blessings I have. Thank you for reminding me that joy is a choice, it isn’t something that just comes easily sometimes.

  25. I’m currently reading the book/devotional by Nancy Leigh DeMoss called Choosing Gratitude. Joy, gratitude, thankfulness – they’re all a choice.

  26. Do you KNOW someone who is LIVING ALONE? My lifelong ministry as a Police and Fire department Chaplain brings to mind that these calendar days before and after Christmas are the most difficult ones for anyone who has lost a loved one in the past several months, especially if it has been a spouse or close family relative. YOU and I can make a difference if we just write down the names of people who are “HOME ALONE” and then make up a little care package and take it to one person on your list each day. Yes, it IS more blessed to GIVE than to receive! Have your children become involved with your project and see what happens to them as you review what gifts you as a family have been able to personally take to these people living alone during the Christmas season. I do not look for any gifts for myself at Christmas, because I get more excitement out of GIVING JOY and MUSIC to YOU and many others! Here it is in a nutshell: JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME, LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING…

    So, are you ready to go and SPREAD SOME JOY? Better “make your list” and get ready for your first visit to someone alone TODAY!! Someone is just waiting for YOU to cheer them, and you will be blessed beyond what you can imagine!

  27. I am choosing joy by fully surrendering each day to God. I had a realization a few days ago where I thought I was surrendering, but I wasn’t. I wake up each day now to turn my day over to Him. I treat each day as if it is a surprise…a present to be unwrapped to discover. The Lord has my plans, and I am here to discover them!

    Melissa

  30. Last year, at the checkout counter at Walgreens, I was buying my favorite box of candy canes, Hershey Candy Canes, I have to have them, and my family expects them. The young man behind the counter commented that he never heard of Hershey candy canes, and I went on about how good they are and I have to have them every year, I knew I sounded silly, and he looked tired and impatient, until I opened the package and gave him one. He was a really tall guy, very rough and tough looking, and not in the best of mood, but when I handed him the Hershey candy cane, a big smiled completely changed his countenance. I knew I had given him just a little bit of joy at Christmas. And I walked away with a smile on my face, too. Just a small thing, but it was joy.