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In my moment of ridiculous drama, I’m pretty sure that dad’s words sounded something like, “blah blah, stop crying, blah, blah, be joyful.” \u00a0But that conversation stuck with me. \u00a0And what my dad proceeded to teach me over the course of the next several years, whether he knew it or not, was the importance of choosing <\/i>joy.<\/div>\n
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And this memory struck a chord with me today while I spent most of the day helping my mom and step-father.<\/div>\n
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I have been given all the joy from my heavenly father. \u00a0In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that we would be given the full measure of His<\/i> joy. \u00a0We have it, we possess it, but we’ve got to chose it.<\/div>\n
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And this joy isn’t the same thing as happiness. \u00a0Not at all.<\/div>\n
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I wasn’t happy today when I watched my mom scream out in terrible pain. \u00a0 I wasn’t happy when an old friend of Dads looked over my shoulder at mom and almost gasped. \u00a0I wasn’t happy when she grabbed my hand as tightly as she could when we told her it was my birthday, and I wasn’t happy when she started weeping uncontrollably. I had a deep sadness in those moments, and in my mom’s small room today, happiness would have been an unfitting and absurd emotion.<\/div>\n
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But there is still joy.<\/div>\n
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It’s the same joy that Job found when he cried out in faith after loosing everything but his life: \u00a0“The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away. \u00a0Blessed be the name of the Lord.” \u00a0 <\/i>And it’s the same joy that Mary found in the midst of fear at the news that she was carrying the Savior: \u00a0“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” \u00a0<\/i>These emotions have nothing to do with happiness but everything to do with joy that comes from God alone.<\/div>\n
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This gift of joy is unspeakable. \u00a0It isn’t depleted when we’re faced with losing loved ones, and it doesn’t dwindle when our sadness intensifies. \u00a0Instead, this joy transforms and transcends tears, heartaches, and trouble.<\/div>\n
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Joy. \u00a0I choose it, I embrace it, and I’m grateful of it. \u00a0Even now, sitting here reflecting on the hope I have no matter what He gives or takes, no matter how hard or easy the day is, and no matter what tomorrow brings, I weep with tears of Joy.<\/div>\n
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It really wasn’t a\u00a0happy\u00a0<\/i>birthday, per say. \u00a0But it was a joyful one, and I couldn’t ask for a greater gift.<\/div>\n
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Joyful birthday to me.<\/div>\n