Joy

There are many things that bring us joy. 

Joy can come in many shapes and sizes and, I suppose, each person feels joy in their own special way.

What does it mean to feel joy? Is it the exuberance of living life to its fullest? Is it the special way you feel when singing a lullaby to your small child? Is it holding your loved ones close to you? Exactly what does it mean to feel joy? Is is spinning around in circles in the sunshine? Is there really a way to describe joy? All I know is that joy should bring a smile to your lips and a glow to your face. Joy should sound like laughter and giggles. Joy should be found in everything we do.

Today I thought I would see how many ways I could feel joy. 
 

I felt full of joy to wake up to a loving husband who made me a cup of coffee and brought it to me while I was still reading in bed. 

The sun was shining today and after so many gray days I was feeling particularly joyous about the sun smiling down on the world outside and sharing its warmth with me.

I felt joy while we were driving in the Smoky Mountains and looking at all of the streams, creeks, and rivers that were flowing together. The water was beautiful to behold and it reminded me that, even though I had been tired of seeing the rain fall, it had a job to do. Rain is the cleansing that is brought to us by God to cleanse our Mother Earth when she needs it the most.  

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I watched a small chickadee today as it flitted from branch to branch and feasted on dried seeds. I felt that this was one of the first meals it may have had in many days. We have had endless rain with a sudden burst of snow that dropped many inches in a few short hours. How must it feel to be a small creature that is nesting in trees without leaves and rain pounding down for days and days and days? How much hunger does a small bird feel? It seemed as if this small chickadee was feeling full of joy as it chirruped, plucked a seed, pecked it open with its very tiny bill, and then gobbled it down. I pondered on how many of these very tiny seeds it would take to fill up this very tiny bird. I brought joy to my heart to see this little bird having a wonderful meal.

I felt joy and awe as I watched a hawk glide this way and that way across an open field searching for its dinner.

I felt joy when I watched all of the deer that were out and about finally getting their fill of the lush green grass in the pastures of Cades Cove, drying their wet coats out in the warming sun.

I felt joy as I watched Brother Crow dig through the dirt
and throw it over his shoulder to get to a juicy tidbit.

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I felt joy when I saw the tom turkeys starting to chase the female turkeys around. This told me that Spring would be happening soon.  I can hardly wait to see those first wildflowers popping their heads up from their winter sleep to open up beneath the warm sun.

Upon returning home this evening, I even felt joy while watching the inane Gilligan as he and his buddies kept hoping to be rescued from that uncharted island.

So, you see, joy can be found everywhere, in everything. You just have to be willing to feel it in your soul.