Real Life Real Faith Wisdom for Everyday Life January Issue | Page 29

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The word
“joy”
appears in
the King
James
Version of
the Bible
165 times.

There is a difference between the lady and
the gentleman that show up at a community
event to “work the booth” and one who looks
forward to the opportunity to “serve the
public” with information that they have the
ability to share. One dreads the task and it
will probably be evident to anyone they may
interact with. The latter embraces the
opportunity to serve, and their joy and
excitement is contagious!
There are references to joy in giving, in
serving, the joy of the Lord and it goes on. Joy
is a gift! Serving is an honor, and a privilege.
Serving with joy is one of the highest
expressions of love that we can offer to the
one whom we serve, be it spouse, parent,
child, or the precious treasures at a
retirement home or hospital.

I can recall caroling as a young girl at the
senior citizen homes in Gary, Indiana every
holiday season. We youngsters got excited
about sharing our gifts of song. We were
happy to be chosen to participate. The
excitement and energy that we brought into
the room was infectious! Faces began to go
from sad to happy. Toes were tapping. Even
the employees were impacted by our youth
and energy! We were learning even then, to
serve with joy! I didn’t know it, but it would
follow me all of my life; the desire to leave a
person a little happier than they were before
we connected.
This is the thing about setting the intention
to show up as our best, most caring selves
though. We influence others to do the same.
We can “turn that frown upside down” to
quote a familiar phrase. I have never met
anyone man, woman or child who desires to
be sad! We are not wired that way by Our
Creator. Everything within us seeks to be
safe and loved and happy. If we can help each
other experience that by just smiling, or
telling a corny joke (my personal favorite) we
are doing powerful work! Because that smile
you gave away? It will be re-gifted to so many
others; hence the phrase “spreading the joy”.
Each day we go out into a world that can be
cold and uncaring. But our service to the
world no matter where we are or what we
are doing, is to show our humanity. It is an
incredible thing to me when I speak
somewhere and I catch someone just
beaming from ear to ear, or laughing out loud
about something I said. I am energized by
“them”! Because I made the choice to offer
my service and disperse the information I had
with energy and with genuine concern and
interest, I am rewarded with encouragement
to keep “serving with joy”!
Whatever you do for a living, even if your
work is in your home as a caretaker or
molder of young minds, do it with the
attitude that you are blessed to have that
opportunity. Because you are! To assist
someone no matter how minute you may
think the gesture, or how huge the task
before you, is an honor.