Poor Husband was hurting.  He had just had a root canal, but we needed groceries for a family celebration and Costco was close to the dental clinic.   After getting the needed groceries, we grabbed lunch in the food court.  Eating wasn’t fun for him, but to his delight, a little girl at the next table was happy to play peek-a-boo.  Her smiles and playfulness distracted him from the pain in his jaw and he was cheered.  He could have had a pity party and wallowed in his misery, but he chose to lift his eyes off himself and engage with a friendly child.  Laughter is the best medicine!  

Life is hard.  Sometimes we get battle-weary.  There are unending challenges.  That’s exactly why we need to remind ourselves to be on the look-out for happy surprises from a God who cares.

How many mood lifting gifts from our loving Father do we miss because we are too busy or too busy looking at ourselves to notice the happy surprises?  A short distance from our house a small farm has sheep and turkeys.  We always look at their pastures as we drive by in hopes of catching a glimpse of the animals.  Often we get a giggle from those turkeys or a sigh of contentment just seeing the sheep peacefully relaxing in a safe pasture.  But what if we rushed by those fields without noticing?  We’d miss out on those entertaining and enriching moments.  Some of our windows face West.  Often times the evening sky is ablaze with ever-changing sunset colors.  But if we don’t stop to enjoy the light show, we miss out.  We miss those gifts from God that remind us of the kind of God he is.

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.  Romans 1:20

You may say, “That’s easy for her to say.  She lives in a rural setting surrounded by opportunities to enjoy beauty and peace.  I live in the hubbub of a dirty city.”  I understand that sentiment because I studied and worked near/in the Loop, downtown Chicago, for five years.  So I do understand your complaint.  I’m not a city person and I missed the quiet and living beauty of my native Pennsylvania.    I admit that I took every opportunity to escape the city and spend time among trees and fields.  But in whatever environment God has placed you, you will find sweet reminders of your Father if you only look.  In Chicago, I noticed the varied architecture and marveled at what mankind can build with the creativity given by their Creator.  I enjoyed people watching and was intrigued by God’s love of variety as displayed by the uniqueness of each human.  The concrete couldn’t completely obliterate the beauty of the sky.  And the constant wind reminded me that not all power is harnessed by man.

We have the choice to walk around with blinders on, razor-focused on the next hurdle, complaining about our lot in life.  Or we can open ourselves to look for the next beauty and give praise to God.  We can sit down to a meal without gratitude and gobble it down without enjoying it, or we can thank God for our food and savor each bite.  We can rush here and there always thinking of the next thing to be done or we can appreciate the moment and wring the most joy possible from it.  We can keep a running narrative of the Me story, or we can intentionally look for the God story.

“I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.  Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.  Psalm 31:7, 21

I know not all experiences are pleasant, but there is a gift in every experience.  As John Maxwell said, “sometimes we win, sometimes we learn.”  Often there is pain, but there is something to be grateful for in the middle of suffering.  Even in the worst place, we find joy in God’s presence right now and we look forward to uninterrupted joy when we join him in Heaven.  

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”  Hebrews 12:2

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. . . with eager hope,  the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”  Romans 8:17-21

Where do you find moments of joy?  

In God’s creation?  We don’t have to travel to snow-capped mountains to appreciate nature.  Just stopping to look at a backyard bird can give us a boost.  

In performing or listening to music?  We don’t have to be musicians to perform, we can sing in the shower or in the car.  

In stimulating conversation or reading?  Taking five minutes to read something interesting to your spouse can provide enjoyment to both of you.  

In watching or engaging in a physical activity like dancing?  We can access music and dance in any genre instantly via our screens for a lift in our mood.  

In seeing or making a beautiful painting or photograph?  Taking a few minutes to study a piece of art feeds my inner person.  Making art keeps me growing.

In relationships?  This past week we had the joy of all our adult children and most of our grandchildren visiting us.  Wow!  We had a banquet of joy!  One of our daughters and her family live so far away that we see her only once a year.  What wonderful times we had together!  And seeing the grandchildren running barefoot in the lawn playing together was priceless.  (Yes, the Lord gave us unusually sunny, warm days as an extra special gift.) One day, several daughters and granddaughters were all in the kitchen with me.  Poor Husband, apparently the noise level was deafening and he and our son-in-law retreated to the outdoors.  What could be better than happy women in the kitchen?!

In the ancient Scriptures?  Moving literature that expresses the longings, pain, and joys of humankind is at our fingertips, ready to speak truth to the deep parts of our beings and bring us happiness.  It’s a well of joy that never runs dry.

Open eyes and ears and a grateful heart go a long way in coping with life.   

“. . . the sounds of joy and gladness . . . “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.”  Jeremiah 33:11