Category: Joy + Jesus

Explore biblical joy rooted in Jesus—honest reflections, devotionals, and spiritual practices for faithful living in real, everyday life.

  • To “My Dearest”: A Precious Glimpse into the Past

    A glimpse into the past

    I had a special moment yesterday when I caught a glimpse into the past. This letter was written on my birthday, but thirty-one years prior to my birth. And it was written just six days after my mother was born, by her father, stationed away from his family during WWII.

    December 8, 1943

    “My Dearest”

    How precious to read his handwriting to his “dearest” about his happiness to receive the telegram about the birth of their second baby girl. While he gave some news of the goings-on about him, he more mused about how his family was doing. He so wanted her to be well and happily settled back at home. He must have been so anxious to hold his new daughter!

    I can’t imagine being apart at birth and yet I know it happens regularly, families separated by wars, external or internal.

    I am so grateful for the examples all of my grandparents, parents, and in-laws have set by demonstrating steadfastness and faithfulness in their marriages, even when external forces made that so hard. We will strive to do the same.

    I can imagine my sweet “Poppy” young and in uniform, pouring out his love on paper. and imagining his wife and new baby so far away and still in the hospital. I picture his heart welling up to be with them. He let his JOY loose!

    “Your Loving Husband”

    My grandfather signed his letter “your loving husband”, and he remained most definitely so for the duration of his long life. I’m so thankful I got to have this glimpse into his heart this week. What a treasure for my mom to still have his letter, and to know how happy he was about her arrival all those years ago!

    Have you enjoyed any glimpse into the past that have touched your heart and caused you to be grateful? Tell me about it in the comments!

    Elizabeth JOY

  • My Son, My Sunshine, and The Yellow Boots

    My Son, My Sunshine, and The Yellow Boots

    Transported back in time

    Do you ever catch sight of something and get transported back in time in an instant? That happened to me today. It was the yellow boots I saw in the store.

    My son, Morgan, was about 4 when he inherited some boots just like these from a bigger kid he looked up to. He. Loved. Them. He wore them everywhere, and there was never a pair of boots that more accurately expressed his sunny personality.

    A Big Personality

    Morgan had such a big and joyful presence that you could feel him coming. These were just right. (Plus, yellow was always his favorite color.) But then one Fall day, he lost them. Worse than that, we almost lost him.

    The yellow boots

    He was out with friends and their dads fishing for the afternoon. All was awesome – they were just stopping to fish along the lakeshore as they walked. The kiddos took off quite a bit ahead of the dads and then stopped again. It was so quick, but little Morgan accidentally tumbled in, yellow boots and all, and the drop-off was significant. I’ve heard from his dad that it felt like an eternity to get to him, and when they did, he was really struggling.

    I’ll tell you what: Superdads are a real thing. I didn’t want to re-live that snapshot, but there were those yellow boots in the store today.

    Sadness turned to gratitude

    But instead of making me feel sad and experience the anxiety again, it actually turned me to gratitude.

    • So grateful I still have my sunshiney boy. Life is precious.
    • So grateful for his dad and our friend making such a quick rescue.
    • So thankful that we know a Heavenly Father who walks with us through difficult and traumatic times and doesn’t leave us to bear them alone.
    • So glad that Morgan is now a very strong swimmer.
    • And I’m eternally grateful that he still lives as though he’s sporting those yellow boots – walking through life with joy and vibrancy that affects everyone around him.

    What about you?

    What about you? Do you have difficult memories that you can turn around to praise today? How will you bless the Lord at all times?

    I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

    (Psalm 63:4)

    Elizabeth JOY

  • There is Wonderful Joy Ahead

    Sometimes it’s hard to see joy ahead. Right now, it seems as though every which way I turn, people are hurting. Whether through illness, oppression, job loss, trauma, betrayal, invisibility, misrepresentation, relationship breakdown, or loss of purpose, people are enduring trials.

    The enemy of our souls is hell-bent on stealing, killing, and destroying God’s people. He thrives on division and ruin. He wants you isolated.

    You are not alone

    You are not alone. This hardship you face is real. It is arduous. It brings pain that must be felt and acknowledged. There must be grief. But you do not have to bear it by yourself.

    On the other side of persisting through trials with hope and Christlikeness is JOY.

    • There is wonderful JOY ahead in the form of forgiveness and wholeness.
    • There is wonderful JOY ahead in the reality of grace extended, of not really being destroyed even when you have been struck down.
    • There is wonderful JOY ahead in the arms of Jesus who welcomes the weary one.

    So don’t give up

    Persist. Hope. Repent. Receive. Worship. Painful, dark moments will fade into the glorious light of Christ if you will pursue Him only.

    There is wonderful JOY ahead!

    Elizabeth JOY