Today I Choose Joy

This print hangs on the wall in my home.  I chose it for several reasons.  I love hummingbirds…I love red flowers…and the phrase, Today, I Choose Joy, is a good daily reminder to keep my attitude right. 

Today, I Choose Joy! It’s not always an easy choice.  There are days when we have physical pain.  Days when the tire on our vehicle is flat.  Days when the package delivered is not what we ordered.  Days when people expect more of us than we can give at that moment.  Days when others try our patience to the maximum.  Days when our coffee maker quits working. Days then the humidity is too high to open the windows and enjoy waking to the joyful sound of the birds serenading the new day.  Days when the paragraph we just typed suddenly disappears for no apparent reason!  (yes it did) The list is endless!  It’s not always easy to choose JOY.  We fall into the trap of murmuring and complaining, and allowing things to go from bad to worse.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:2-3 NLT)

In this passage from the Book of James, the word joy comes from a Greek word- khar-ah’ (G)  meaning cheerfulness, calm delight.

Sometimes we need a reminder to choose JOY!  A reminder to be cheerful and calm and take delight in the important things.  We need an attitude adjustment.  Yesterday, I needed a reminder. 

I always fill my hummingbird feeder in May and get ready for the annual migration as the beautiful little hummers make their way North from Mexico.  Although I may see one or two as they move through the area in early spring, I don’t have hummers visiting my feeders in June and July.   For the past several years, my “little dude” as I call him, arrives in early August, and leaves the first week of October.

Early yesterday afternoon, as I glanced out the kitchen window, I spotted 2 hummers checking out my feeder.  I immediately, went out and retrieved the empty feeder.  I washed and sanitized it while fresh sugar water was boiling and once cooled, I put the feeder back outside.   Last evening as the sun went down, my “little dude” was back. He didn’t hover to drink.  He sat on the feeder and drank his fill for several minutes. 

He has come back a few days early this year.  But he is right on time.  God know just what we need when we need it.  I can look forward to my hummers daily visits until early October. But, daily, I know that God is always with me and Today, I Choose JOY!

Darlene Shelton 7-29-22