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Lasting Joy

by Joanne Wiklund

Most of us experienced being “shut-in” during the Pandemic quarantine, and had to figure out how to cope with its effects. I found ways to make days go by and learned once again how to keep busy and productive. But I admit that it was such a good time to watch TBN, study my Bible, pray more and talk less. I learned so much in this going on three years, that I really like myself a lot more than I did when we started this season of sorrow and adjusting for so many reasons.
 
Old friends and new friends have supported me and given me reasons to keep going. I was thinking about that while I relaxed this morning in my glider, with the sun warming me. I committed to spending at least ten to fifteen minutes a day there when the sun comes in those windows. I sing sometimes when I’m gliding and the first song is always “Rocka my soul on the bosom of Abraham.” That’s such a great song to glide to. I have others I save for the shower.
 
This morning I thought about joy and happiness. I once lost my joy and had to go hunt for it. I had help from a friend who gave me pages of all the scriptures in the Bible where Joy is mentioned. It helps so much what you think about yourself. So I am again counting my joy and I’m happy. I also know that a Chinese proverb says that Happiness is fleeting. It’s like a butterfly. If you chase Happiness it will fly away from you, but if you sit and wait, it will sometimes come and rest on you. We can lose Happiness, but once we have joy in our soul, it remains there, even in sorrow.
 
Isaiah 12:2-3 “Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3.Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
 
Romans 5:2 “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”