I met joy face-to-face yesterday… literally… and unexpectedly…
In the middle of the canned goods aisle… turning to continue my shopping…
I heard her voice at my shoulder…
I’m celebrating today…
Seeing as there was no one else she could be talking to… I said… Oh… What are you celebrating…?
She told me… we talked for a moment…
I heard about the meal she was preparing to celebrate alone…
As the conversation wound down… I put out my hand… I’m Carol…
She offered hers… I’m Joy…
And isn’t that just like joy to be celebrating…?
She was joy-full…
I gave her a celebratory hug of congratulations… and moved on with my shopping…
Smiling at the encounter… because… of course… that’s what joy does… makes you smile…
Four aisles later… we met again… Joy and I…
Our second meeting went a bit deeper… after all… we knew each other from way-back-when… like ten minutes ago… among the stacked cans…
She shared more of her story… and I wonder at her joy… as she summed up the sorrows bringing her to where she was in just one sentence…
I’m sorry…
Thank you…
She wondered allowed what God had for her here… so I asked about church…
Invited her to the place I worship…
Where I hope to meet Joy… again…
Even if I don’t… she was a lesson in joy…
Bubbling over… onto people you don’t know… (yet…)
Celebrating life… even if you do it alone…
Wondering what God has in store next… even when the road to where you are has been sorrow-full…
Joy… it’s what He blesses us with… and it’s something meant to be shared…
I was certainly blessed meeting Joy… face-to-face…
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11 ESV
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