Allll Aboard — the Joy-of-Life Bandwagon!

Yesterday is gone and THIS IS THE DAY the Lord has made, so let’s be JOY-full and be glad for it!

When you’ve had as many DAYS on this earth as I’ve had, you recognize each new day as a blessed day of start-overs, do-overs, rejoice-overs and be-glad-in-it overs.

My favorite “life” quote is: “If I’m not dead; I’m not done!” That means I must be the best and do the best I can to be who God created me to be each and every day.

Being my best is riding daily on the joy-of-life bandwagon – not only for my good which invigorates me and gives me purpose, but to help others (those who get all caught up in the seriousness and practical demands of life) to get back the joy of life, too.

You know those folks who wake up on the wrong side of the bed. They get so focused on making a living, that they succumb to life by living each day in an almost robotic routine. They forget the child within them and they lose a lot of the flavor and spice of life.

They don’t stop to smell the roses, to be struck with wonder anymore, like they did as children. I love this photo of the little girl running through the field — care-free!

I never want to EVER lose that youthful pleasure and joy of life throughout the entire length of my life. I am campaigning for a fully occupied joy-of-life bandwagon with others who want to live audaciously, free of the dismal, woe-is-me hang-ups.

You might ask me the secret to waking each day singing: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, up in my head, down in my feet. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy — all over me.” Those are the words to that old “I’ve Got the Joy” song. Singing or speaking those words is expressing the determination to be filled with joy!

It is JOY-intentionally! A friend of mine expressed her concern and worry about having health issues. It wasn’t because she was having issues. It was because her family had them, and now she was fearing the same thing would happen to her.

I gave her many scriptures to take in like a prescription daily and to speak to her body and mind with God’s promises. The same with me — when I start to feel depleted of joy…I take a “God’s Word” scripture — like:
“The joy of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10;
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence, there is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11

None of us are free from life’s challenges, tragedies, pressures, or even suffering. We have known the sorrow of loss, the fears, and challenges of illness, but we don’t have to rehearse those things. We can refuse to allow any of those things to crush our child-like joy and freedom.

We can prove that true joy and happiness can even be experienced in the midst of life’s challenges. We can be like the “little children” who Jesus encouraged to enter the Kingdom of God — possessing the attitude of living life fully, with great joy and gusto!

I’ve reserved a seat for you on the joy-of-life bandwagon with me. Come on. Get on board! The ride is oh so sweet…..and so joy-filled!