Joy

We have been talking about the virtue of Joy in KidStuf this month and I have been working on this with my kids as well. It is so easy to be joyful when everything is going well in our lives. The sunny, spring weather we have been having also makes it easy to feel joy. What about when something isn't going quite the way we imagined. We create a perfect picture in our mind and reality doesn't quite match the idyllic image we have made.

In church, they talked about the story of Jesus walking on water and then Peter walking out to him. Peter was doing great until he looked down and realized what was happening. The same doubt in our lives is what makes us falter and begin to lose the joy. Keeping our eyes on Jesus helps keep the fear away.

We were outside riding bikes yesterday. BluePony is trying to finally ride without training wheels. She almost has it! She was doing great until she glanced back and realized I wasn't holding on. Immediately the fear came into her face, she began to wobble, and then I grabbed the back of her bike and steadied her.

I think we are the same way. We start off great, just like Peter's first few steps off the boat. As soon as we realize what is happening, we let that little bit of doubt creep in and we begin to sink. We need to remember that Jesus is standing right there to keep us on track and help us. All we need is to do is reach out and take his hand.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverb 3:5-6