True Joy

I started a new job in June, and while it’s not physically demanding, it is “mental overload!” There are always five things that I should have done an hour ago at all times. But no matter how I’m “draggin'” when I get home, every morning I get up ready to take on a new day. I love my co-workers, and it’s actually a “joy” to go to work. My problem has been – I’m bringing it home with me. I come home exhausted.

Last Wednesday, I ate something at lunch that didn’t quite agree with me, and I came home and laid across the bed – supposedly for “just a few minutes.” Two hours later, I woke up – still in my dress clothes, with my contacts “stuck” on my eyeballs. It was one of those, “Where am I? What day is this?” moments. Then, I realized that I’d been asleep, Steve had left me and gone on to church. I’d slept through it! I laid there a few moments and came to the realization that I couldn’t keep going like this – something had to change.

That made me think of my “word of the month” – JOY! Next week, that’s the topic of my daily Scripture Writing Schedule. I can’t wait! Since I was a child, I’d always heard that to have true “joy,” you must put J-Jesus first, O-Others second, and Y-Yourself last. But as I laid there, thinking about it, I remembered in Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” God comes FIRST! But Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on to say, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39) I don’t believe that this verse puts “others second and yourself last.” I think our neighbors and ourselves “tie” for second place. We are to love others AS we love ourselves. We must love ourselves first. If you don’t take care of yourself – you won’t be able to take care of others.

So, I vowed then and there, that I was going to look for the “joy of the moment” and put things in the order that Jesus did. God – Myself and Others. Now, I’ll be honest, the devil did his best to “try me” on Thursday. That’s the day that I had a flat tire on the way to work. . . Oh, my . . .Yes, he’s been working hard, but no matter what happened Thursday and Friday at work, (“and there were some “doozies”, I tell ya) I felt at peace. I didn’t work late. I didn’t bring my computer home to work this weekend. Our Gospel Lectureship starts tomorrow, and I can’t wait to worship with my Doniphan Church of Christ family next week! I’m going to get to see Aiden soon. My girls are healthy and happy! I’m still married to my best friend. Life is so good!

So, take care of yourself, and your attitude and outlook on life will be a blessing to those with whom you come in contact! “Others will see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) May you find “true joy.” God Bless, Courtney