Joy: Day 10

It's hard to believe I'm already a third into this little Joy project!  I am enjoying it immensely.  Yesterday we were watching Mormon Messages after dinner (while waiting for America's Funniest Videos to come on) and one of them featured President Eyring's talk on gratitude.  He talked about keeping a daily journal of the ways he saw the hand of the Lord in his life that day.  It made me think about this study of joy that I have undertaken.  I wanted to say a "search" for joy--but really, I haven't had to do a whole lot of searching.  The joy is there.  I have seen it in my life.  But, now I'm pondering it and recording it, which makes it more meaningful in many ways for me.

Tonight I felt joy listening to my 4 (getting close to 5) year old give the lesson for Family Home Evening.  She related a story from The Friend.  I was quite impressed that she remembered the details of the story, (from the shine on the apples, to the lights on the porch coming on), after only hearing it once.  If any of my children end up being a writer, I think she'd be the one to do it.  She is endlessly imaginative, and holds on to pieces of stories, (or entire stories, apparently), for quite a long time.

I felt it again when my normally fussing-at-bedtime son ran into my room (where I was laying in bed) and turned his little face up to me with pursed lips.  "Kisses?," I asked, and he grunted an assent.  After kisses, he immediately turned and happily ran to his room so daddy could sing and rock him to sleep.  I love listening to my husband sing to our children.  I don't know that he pictured himself doing that as a dad.  But, he does it because he loves our children.

And, this morning, I felt joy in knowing and understanding the precious Plan of Salvation.  I learned that a friend's son passed away yesterday.  He has been a little fighter since he was born prematurely almost a year and a half ago.  He spent his entire life in the hospital--doctors never really seeming to know exactly what was wrong or how to fix it.  He embodied many miracles during his short stay on the earth.  His passing has allowed me to think, again, of the blessing of knowing where he is now--that he is in the presence of his loving Heavenly Father.  And because of beautiful temple covenants, he forever belongs to his parents.  What joy in knowing that families are forever!