Finding Joy Every Day

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart,

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay.”

Just about everyone knows this old hymn. If you’ve ever been a kid at Sunday School, you’ve sung it. What ABOUT joy? When’s the last time you felt joy? Think about it- you get up, go to work, go home, eat, doom scroll on your phone, and go to bed. Then, you do it all over the next day. I used to wish it were Friday all the time. Then, a dear friend by the name of Dave, told me I was wishing my life away. He was a volunteer at one of my past schools. He got up every single day and taught elementary-aged kids how to play the dulcimer. That was Dave’s joy. He cherished every day that he could get up and come see those children learn to play music. When Dave passed, I thought about what he had said. I stopped wishing for the weekend to hurry up and get here. I started paying attention to the little joys of each day.

So, on this eve of my 27th year of teaching, I leave you with a quote from an 80’s movie character named Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Next time you find yourself wishing for the weekend, for that next break, for whatever that next “thing” is, remember Ferris’ words….and go find your joy!