There are many sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations that bring JOY to our hearts. Hearing one of your children’s voices after an extended absence; the touch of a friend when you are going through troubling times; a light breeze on a warm evening; mom cooking in the kitchen. The list for each of us can go on for pages and pages and I would love to hear some of your JOY’s below.

Like you, JOY for me comes in many forms, the spirit of self competition from playing golf; the taste of a new beer as it crosses my tongue for the fist time; the sense of accomplishment as my garden grows and matures; feeding my backyard pond fish as they dart through the water; and my list too, could go on and on.

The majority of my JOY comes from being with my wife: The look on her face as we pull up to my newest Restaurant find as she says ‘I wouldn’t let my horse eat here”; A hand in hand walk on the beach as the cool ocean waves run across our feet; watching the sun come up as we sip our morning coffee; Sitting on the porch swing in the evening and waving at everyone as they drive by; Going to the Rodeo in Las Vegas and cheering on our favorites; Antique shopping just to see what everything we already have is worth; Fairs, Festivals, Concerts, the list goes on and on as well.

One of my biggest JOY’s is singing old standard church songs. Early on in this journey I shared how I had lost my JOY of singing. Amazing how time helps heal wounds and the heart finds a way to work through difficulties. As it turns out, I’m singing again! Blessed Assurance; What a friend we have in Jesus; I love to tell the Story; Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus; In my heart there rings a melody. Whether in the car or mowing the yard, I’m back to singing in my high pitch soft voice (LOL). I still miss singing in church though as there is ‘no JOY in Mudville’ while wearing a mask. I know someday that JOY will return as well.

Now it’s time to help my wife find the JOY in her life. That too will come with patients and time as we both settle into this new life together. It’s from here on that my list of JOY’s I share with her will grow in a new direction that I never expected.

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow