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"I thought of you," she said with a sincere smile, while I tried to will my mouth not to drop open.
A coworker of mine was telling me about her Bible study and how they were talking about joy. I was the first person who came to her mind, because I'm "always happy and smiling."
If I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me, I could treat us all to an all-expense paid trip to Maui! Okay, yes, that was a blatant use of comedic hyperbole, but you get my point. ;)
Anyway, I thanked her for her kind words, but was quick to reveal the truth: the joy she sees is a gift of grace. For the most part, I am pretty content and joyful these days. I have a lot to be thankful for and marvel at that often. Of course, there are days when I hurt and am frustrated and choosing joy is something I can't do apart from Him. Then there are other days when joy comes bubbling forth with reckless abandon and I'm just so overwhelmed with thankfulness I can hardly stand it! :) You know, the days that are punctuated with inexplicable joy. . .the kind you should be downcast on, but instead you just want to fling your arms back, spin around in a twirly skirt and break out into song. . .like a fabulous old school musical. :) I'm thankful for those days, but I'm even more thankful for the days when choosing joy is difficult. The difficulty makes me lean on my Lord that much more and fall before His throne of grace to see me through.
So, all this got me thinking about how it relates to marriage (you knew I had a point, didn't you?). I know too much to think that marriage will be an endless stream of sunshine and roses or candlelit dinners and romance, and that there will be times when choosing to be a joyful, submissive and respectful wife will be possible only by God's grace.
I'm grateful for opportunities I have now to strengthen my character, so that I will be a better support to the man God has for me.
"Be joyful always!" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16
