Joy
is much different than a state of profound happiness or excitement. Joy is
deeper than that. In fact neurologists have discovered that
there is actually a “joy center” in the brain.
It’s there from the moment a person is born. It’s developed through exchanges of delight;
such as when a baby first meets its mother’s eyes and finds her smile, or when a
parent returns home and the child runs into their open, waiting arms. These are exchanges of joy through which we
learn we are someone’s beloved and have a place in this world.
deeper than that. In fact neurologists have discovered that
there is actually a “joy center” in the brain.
It’s there from the moment a person is born. It’s developed through exchanges of delight;
such as when a baby first meets its mother’s eyes and finds her smile, or when a
parent returns home and the child runs into their open, waiting arms. These are exchanges of joy through which we
learn we are someone’s beloved and have a place in this world.
So
joy is relational. Contagiously, it is
stirred up in a person when someone is glad to see them and they return joy back. Studies show that Joy can grow between
individuals at a rate of 6 cycles per second in a non-verbal face to face
exchange. In fact, in the absence of
this joy exchange, a person can refer back to it and return to a state of
joy. That is the strength of joy.
“So
why are you saying all of this?” You might ask.
Because all of us long to be the apple in someone’s eye, or experience
moments of consolation after long desolate journeys. We were actually made to
crave it and be nourished by it - by JOY.
That is what gives us the strength to journey on and live the life we
were made to live. It’s what helps life
make sense. And, while joy is built through relationship
with others, it is ultimately built through our relationship with God. Joy grows between us and God through shared moments. It happens as we set our eyes on him and find his smile. Over time we develop an ongoing sense of well-being learned through the goodness of God.
The One who came as a baby, came by way of a
mother whom God strengthened through a "delight-exchange" between her and her cousin, Elizabeth (Luke 1:14); so at 8 months pregnant , Mary journeyed on the back of a donkey to share a
stable and birth JOY – Emanuel, God with us. Jesus, who "for the JOY set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame", now sits at the right hand of God (Heb. 12:2). He is the Good King over all, forever waiting with open arms for us. He desires to be with us and anticipates
our companionship. He is the one who is
mighty to save and rejoices over us with singing (Zeph. 3:17). He, “makes our feet like hinds feet” (Ps
18:33) as we scale the craggy mountain paths of our life journey with Him. He tells his children that as
they live under the banner of His love they will “Go out with Joy and be led forth
with peace” (Isa 55:12). “The Joy of the Lord is our strength!” (Neh. 8:10) - Joy-Strength.
1.
Greet others with a smile.
2.
Invite others to tell you truthfully how they
are doing, and what they are thinking.
Listen without interrupting.
3.
Take a sincere interest in really knowing the
other person. Work hard to understand the
other’s fears, joys, passions, talents and pain.
4.
Treat each other with dignity and respect.
5.
Use touch when it’s appropriate. Hold hands, link arms, give hugs, etc…
6.
Discover what brings someone joy and custom fit
your time with them.
7.
Give little surprises that causes someone’s eye’s
to light up…and let your eyes light up to!
Remember, Joy builds as the glances go back and forth.
8.
Cherish babies and children by establishing
through words and actions that you are authentically “glad to be with them.”
9. ...and know that God does the same with us
