The Joy

I received a gift yesterday, a gift from my precious Lord Jesus. It came in the form of 4 simple words from my mother. I don't think she even understood what it meant to me when she said them. She was having a difficult time speaking, as she often does these days. Sometimes the words just won't come. So I decided
to continue reading Philippians that I started the day before.

Phi 2:1-2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Reading this gave me an opportunity to talk to her (93 yrs old, but less than 2 yrs as a believer) about God's joy and how we can have it no matter what our circumstances and how special it is to me. I went on talking for while and I was just starting to wonder if she understood what I was saying, and she said, "I feel the joy."
     "What? You do?"  She nodded. She couldn't say anything else after that, but those 4 words were perfectly clear. Wow. Our gracious God gives great gifts!

1985--67 yrs

2005--87 yrs

2006--88 yrs

2011--93 yrs