Corona Devo 278

Our supper-time topic of discussion yesterday was "joy".  We came at it from a few different angles.  To engage our kids, we kicked off by asking them what brings them joy during the holidays?  Interestingly, they each listed the same 3 things.  Number One was "presents" for each of them.  I mean, they are kids, and Christmas is approaching, what was I expecting?   

Numbers 2 and 3 were ranked differently depending on the child but the answers were the same: being "off of school" (Christmas break!) and "time with family".  

We chatted about these things for a minute and then we also took a moment to encourage each of them to "choose joy" this week, especially in the midst of whatever their particular "trouble spot" or "joy-stealer" is.  

God wants us to share his good fruit with others, not sour grapes.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  ~Galatians 5:22

Joy isn't something to just sprinkle into our holiday greetings.  If mixed in correctly to our daily lives and attitudes, it changes our perspective and our treatment of others.  Plus, have you ever noticed (in ourselves and others) that it is exhausting to be negative?  Joy is contagious and healthy.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  ~Proverbs 17:22

Our next angle on "joy" was discussing things we could do that might bring others joy.  The children's answers did not flow as quickly or freely this time, but in fairness, this is a harder question.  Wanting to and thinking of ways to bring joy to others is almost counter-cultural for many today.  How would you answer?

They are kids, and so their answers tend to be things that they see right in front of them.  (Look out, because this means that they are looking at us.)  Luckily for my husband and I, we had an example in front of them.  Dozens of them. Cookies.  It just so happens that tomorrow morning we are delivering donated cookies (ours and many others!) to the teachers and staff at their school as a thank you for all that they do to invest in the students.  

This was a good example.

Then we moved on to a great one.

My kids said their joy will come from presents and a break from school and family.  

But what if our joy came because we had a safe place to sleep tonight and a nutritious meal?  What if instead of dreading (online) school, there was a child that was filled with joy just to be taught and to have the opportunity to learn instead of begging on the streets or much worse.

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.  ⁴ Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.  Psalm 82:3-4

Our last angle of joy was discussing Remember Nhu, a charity organization that prevents children from entering the sex-trade.  Years ago, a man from Akron Ohio (Carl Ralston) had his heart stirred (shaken!) by God for an orphan named Nhu in Thailand who had been sold into the sex trade.  Carl fought for her "freedom" (and adopted her!), and then sold his business and began "Remember Nhu" in an effort to serve God by caring for orphans...in their distress, and Carl committed to "do everything in his power to eliminate the use of children in the sex trade industry around the world."

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27

There is joy in serving God by serving others, and Remember Nhu is an amazing example.  We cleared the dinner table and proceeded to chat with our kids about how we (and they) support Remember Nhu through our family business.  A portion of every one of our sales has always been donated to this charity, and as we laid out 24 pictures of the girls (and a couple boys) that we sponsor in Kenya (Remember Nhu has 109 homes in 16 countries...Praise God!) my husband and I saw something change in our kids eyes.  

It wasn't a bad thing for them to hear the stories of how these girls had to beg for food and whose parents died in childbirth, of HIV, or unknown.  All of a sudden their Christmas-lists seemed less important.  The glow of gifts seemed to fade into their (10/12/14-year old) spark and realization of something more.  A deeper joy.  A Jesus-joy.  True joy.  Now we were getting somewhere!

Tucking my daughter in, she wanted to know if we could "tell people" about this?  And she excitedly wondered if she can "Say that she has 24 'other' brothers and sisters"? 

We can tell people, but I also clarified that we share none of this in pride.  It is our joy and privilege to be a part of Remember Nhu.  God provides every sale that comes into our ledger, and His Word clearly states to care for these orphans: Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27.

In an amazing way, our discussion of "joy" had taken a beautiful and deep turn.  It is so easy and natural for us to settle comfortably into our small worlds and our own "joys".  But let's refuse to let the world corrupt you. 

Let's start a personal inventory/discussion on "joy" today, and allow God to give us a spark and realization of something more.  A deeper joy.  A Jesus-joy.  True joy.  Now we are getting somewhere!  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/