Count it all joy....

A phrase from our Christmas cantata.... "Joy is like a flower, burning in the soul"

For some reason - that is stuck in my mind. The flower part, I like. Why it is "burning" in the soul...doesn't make much sense so I'm going to go with the flower part. As may be obvious from my previous blogs, I struggle with finding true joy and contentment in my life. I am beyond blessed so don't go thinking that I'm not truly thankful for everything I've been given. I am so very grateful and I have no problem expressing this to the One who is responsible. However - my greedy little self keeps wanting just a tad. bit. more. Or maybe notsomuch MORE as maybe something different. I would liken to this to my childhood - opening gifts from grandma - and my cousin and I get matching sweaters only hers is pink and mine is blue. Hey! Maybe I wanted the pink one! (that's just an example - I can't recall ever getting matching sweaters - but you catch my drift)

So - I've been studying those people who seem to have true joy in their lives. That has been extremely frustrating to me because I just don't relate! Tonight it dawned on me that I've been studying the wrong people. Tonight, I spent time with one who is the opposite. Debbie Downer. You know the type - nothing is ever enough, nothing good ever happens, always tired or sick, always looking from the outside in - wanting more, wanting better, wanting the greener grass from the other side of the street. And then I thought of the flower....the joy flower. She forgot to water and feed her flower! It has been so neglected that it finally uprooted and died. NEVER will she get it back. Oh sure, someone might be able to come along and plant some new joy flower seeds in her heart - and I pray that happens. But the one she currently carries in her soul might as well be so dead that it is now decomposed.

My joy flower may not be thriving but it's certainly not dead yet. I'm stocking up on some plant food and water and I'm going to nurse it back to health. It will take effort daily - lots and lots of SONshine - and maybe even some conversation. They say when you talk to plants they thrive - so why not talk to the soul to increase the size of our joy? I certainly won't let my joy flower die - and maybe, just maybe I can grow it so big that I will be able to transplant a little of MY joy to someone else.