Give me Joy.

I was out and about yesterday potting up plants for the winter hanging baskets in the village. There is always a very happy attitude among those who help with the work of the floral group. As we worked away and I felt the pleasure of knowing that these flowers would brighten up the village over the winter months and might just bring a bit of joy into some dark corners. 

I found myself without thinking, humming to myself the little song, "Give me joy in my heart keep me singing." Give me joy? Now just who is it that might, in fact, give me joy I wondered? I instantly knew that there were many who would do just that and I am forever grateful to them each and every one.

My mind began to think about this idea of joy. I was sure I had in my mind and in my old notes some comments that some people had made about this very topic. 

 I remember a very interesting conversation with a judge I was attending a conference with. he knew I was a minister of religion and during the conversation, he explained his choice of a career by saying, "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers."

I smiled because as he said it I could picture in my mind's eye the very kind of ministers he was talking about. They were very poor advertisements for the joy of religion. 

I am not sure if I have told this true story before but if I have it does no harm to consider it again.

Author Leo Buscaglia tells this story about his mother and their "misery dinner." It was the night after his father came home and said it looked as if he would have to go into bankruptcy because his partner had absconded with their firm's funds. 

His mother went out and sold some jewellery to buy food for a sumptuous feast. Other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that "the time for joy is now when we need it most, not next week." Her courageous act and words of wisdom rallied the family.

As a third-century, ( sadly I have forgotten his name) man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend, "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it some quiet and peaceful people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure I ever found in life. They had times of sadness and life did not always treat them well, but they cared not. They are masters of their destiny. They have overcome the world. These people have learned to live without jealousy greed or desire and how I had met them sooner."

George Bernard Shaw said this, "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

So back to the  question I began with, "Who will give me joy in my life?' it seems the answer is thay if you want to find joy begin by being joyful in yourself and you will be overwhelmed by those who wish to joing you and be joyful with you.

Have a joy filled life.