My April A to Z posts have been centered around “Things that Make Life Better,” and most days I’ve written about small, tangible things—dinners with friends, books you can’t put down, simple comforts that brighten ordinary days.
But today feels a little different.
J is for Joy.
Joy isn’t something you can pick up at the store or plan on the calendar. It doesn’t require a reservation or a special occasion. And yet, it might be the very thing that makes the biggest difference in how we experience our lives.
I used to think joy and happiness were the same thing. But over time, I’ve learned that happiness often depends on circumstances—things going right, good news arriving, plans working out.
Joy is much deeper than that.
Joy shows up in the middle of real life—the messy, imperfect, sometimes hard parts. It sits beside us in hospital waiting rooms, walks with us through uncertainty, and somehow still finds a way to whisper, there is still good here.
For me, joy often looks small.
It’s the sound of the Diet Pepsi early in the morning . . . when I first twist the cap.
For Mark, it is the first sip of coffee when he wakes up.
A text from a friend at just the right moment often brings joy.
Laughter around the dinner table brings joy to my heart.
Joy is often a sense of peace that doesn’t quite make sense given the circumstances.
These are the kinds of moments that don’t demand attention—but they change everything.
I think joy grows when we notice it.
Not when life is perfect, but when we pause long enough to recognize what is still good, still steady, still full of grace. It’s less about chasing something new and more about seeing what has been there all along.
And maybe that’s why joy makes life better.
Because it doesn’t wait for everything to be fixed. It doesn’t require us to have it all together. It simply meets us where we are—and gently reminds us that even here, even now, there is something to hold onto.
Today, I’m grateful for joy.
The quiet kind. The unexpected kind. The kind that stays.
What has brought joy to your life in the last week?
I had a tiring and frustrating workweek. Today my joys are small, good things: relaxing over coffee while reading blogs and later seeing a friend for a casual evening…
ReplyDeleteSmall joys are often the best joys! I'm so sorry that you had a tiring and frustrating workweek.
DeleteMy caring neighbors have brought me joy this past week. I have a terrible cold and they ALL have checked in to see why I haven't been out and about (your car hasn't moved in two days), and if I need anything. Such a blessing!! Joy!! Yes!! I loved your post!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you are sick! I really love that your neighbors check on you. You live in a great place!!
DeleteJoy is a great choice for the letter J! I experienced joy in little things like flowers popping up in the yard, the first mowing of the season. It was a big joy to see the astronauts touch down yesterday. Hope you have a restful and peaceful day!
ReplyDeleteGirl, great minds!! I almost went with JOY for letter J. And I nodded my head in agreement to everything you said about joy. It does seem to multiply when you notice it and pay more attention. And it often comes in the form of simple blessings. Absolutely love these lines:
ReplyDelete"Joy shows up in the middle of real life—the messy, imperfect, sometimes hard parts. It sits beside us in hospital waiting rooms, walks with us through uncertainty, and somehow still finds a way to whisper, there is still good here."
Joy really is something we all need more of and it's so easy to overlook it. Sometimes really simple things, like today when I got up I opened my refrigerator door and the light came on. That brought me JOY. It might sound really simple but I had a dream last night that the fridge died and I was going to have to replace it. Imagine how simple that light made me feel this morning.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Barbie