Greetings Orchard Covenant Family,
What does it mean to choose joy on purpose? As we move closer toward the Thanksgiving holiday, I’ve been thinking about the many gatherings that will happen during this time of year. Tables are set with good food, families travel, stories get shared about the year, memories are sparked with familiar dishes prepared. Thanksgiving is a celebration for many, and these same days can feel quite challenging for others. Being aware of this is what has me reflecting on choosing joy on purpose.
Maybe it is because this reflection became personal for me this week. An unexpected situation came my way, one of those times that reminds us that life moves swiftly and brings things we didn’t ask for. I felt the feeling of it and knew I needed to stop long enough to ask God for help. That experience reminded me why choosing joy on purpose matters so much, especially when we are navigating feelings and experiences we didn’t plan for. Life will always life and we can’t let it steal our joy!
Having to walk through hard situations myself at times and being faced with things that have tried to steal my joy, I am reminded that we all need support and tools when challenges show up on our journey. What were my tools? Prayer, scripture, and colleagues. Prayer allows us to turn our heart to God. Scripture reminds us of how we are called to conduct ourselves. Conversations with trusted persons can help settle our emotions so we don’t fly off the handle and they offer the breathing room that we need before we respond. These practices reflect the love, wisdom, and grace given to us as children of God.
Choosing joy on purpose illumes through these very practices. When we choose God in the middle of our everyday walk, joy emerges through prayer, through community, through the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, and through thoughtful choices that keep our heart open to God’s goodness. Joy becomes a companion that walks with us through tough days, unexpected obstacles, and needed conversations. Access to God means that we always have access to joy.
As the holidays are approaching, and even as we walk through daily life in general, my prayer is that each of us will discover what choosing joy on purpose looks like in our own life. May gratitude greet you in refreshing ways. May peace fill your home. May your spirit be in joy as we live out this Christian journey together.
Choosing Joy on Purpose,
Rev. Tam
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