Joy Can Still Be Found

When I was younger I found joy in being with my friends, shopping, playing sports; all the typical activities associated with everyday life. As I have aged, I find that joy appears to me in other things. It's the way my dog wags her tail when I return home. It's my husband's smile when he has done something out of character.

Sometimes I recognize those moments as they happen. Other times, I don't realize them until much later.

This past weekend, I found tremendous joy in something so simple I could have missed it altogether if I had not been paying attention. Luckily, I didn't miss it. It sustained me all week long.

My daughter and grandson were both feeling poorly on Easter. Their allergies were getting the best of them. So after church was over and brunch was finished, the two of them wanted to come over and cuddle up next to me to watch a movie.

My grandson was eager to watch the original "Karate Kid." He had just watched the movie remake and liked it. Since he had been watching Ralph Macchio on "Dancing with the Stars," he wanted to see the original film too.

At first, all three of us huddled together on the couch. Eventually, however, my daughter moved to the floor so she could stretch out. Then, my grandson moved his pillow close to me so that his head was up against my leg when he laid down.

As the movie continued, he put his arms over his head to rest them on my legs. Then his little hand reached out to find mine. He curled his fingers around my finger just as he'd done as a tiny baby. Then he lay there perfectly content.

Every once in a while he got up to get more popcorn, a glass of water or go to the bathroom. However, in each instance, he returned to the exact position; always reaching out to hold my hand.

Josh turns eight in June. I have already noticed that he thinks hanging out with Nana and Papa isn't as cool as it once was. I get that. I hate that such a time always comes in a grandchild's life, but I get it.

That's why his simple act of reaching out to hold my hand meant so much. It was confirmation that, at least in some small way, he still needs me in his life. Nothing brings greater joy to a human being than being needed. For a grandparent, that is true one hundred fold.

Like everyone else in the world, I get caught up in day to day life. I have houses to clean, a lawn to mow and meals to fix. I have writing to do and people and animals to take care of. Sometimes it seems that every day is the same. I get up. I work. I clean up. I go to bed. Then the whole cycle begins again the next day.

Yet, this past Sunday Josh reminded of something. He reminded me to hold fast to joy for as long as I can. He held onto my hand till the very end of that film and I found myself wishing it had lasted forever.

The world today is a crazy place. People are at each other's throats. Everyone hates everyone, or so it seems. We have forgotten just how lucky we truly are, just to be alive. We have forgotten how to find joy in friends and in rare moments of happiness.

My challenge to you is this. Vow to take time every single day to find at least one moment of joy. You might find in your family. You might feel in your job. It could come from your faith. You might even find it in yourself. What it is really doesn't matter. That it exists, even for a brief second, does matter.

Reach out and take the hand of someone you love. Go out and smell the flowers in your garden. Look up at the stars in the blue velvet sky. Listen to a beautiful piece of music. Read a good book. Have a good cry with a favorite movie character. Just do something, each and every day, to find that moment of joy. I guarantee that you'll be better for it. In fact, we all will!