The Source of our Joy

Jonas is so laid back and low maintenance that Luke and I often find ourselves wondering if he's really our kid. He smiles constantly and is almost always giggling and squealing with joy. His smile is so contagious in fact that not that long ago I found myself telling Luke that God sent us Jonas because He knew I'd need all those smiles to get through the days that would follow my dad's death.

A few short days after my "Gushing about Jonas" session I spent the morning alone with him. Joshua had a doctors appointment and Luke had driven him into Mitchell for it.When they drove away Jonas stood at the door watching and shrieking as though they had forgotten him. I walked over to close the door and reassured him that they would be back for lunch and that he and I would have tons of fun during our morning together. Being the second child Joe and I have rarely been without Joshua for even a few hours so I figured he would revel in the chance to have me all to himself.

Crying, Whining, Pouting, and frowning had evidently been been added to the morning agenda by someone other than myself. I tried everything to get my sunny, happy Jonas back. We played on the floor. We looked at books together. I even gave him an extra snack time, and nothing seemed to work. He must be sick, or teething. Something must be wrong I concluded.

Finally I saw the makings of a smile begin pushing his rosy cheeks back where they belong. He was standing at the window and I crawled over to kiss him and tell him I was glad to see him happy again. As I leaned toward him I heard a car door closing. Luke and Joshua were in the driveway. I turned back to Jonas, but he had already crawled over to the door and was sitting impatiently waiting for it to open. Joshua ran into the room nearly knowing Jonas over. "Hi, Jonas!" He bent down to hug and kiss his brother, and I realized the source of Jonas's joy. Jonas giggled, blew a raspberry toward Joshua and smiled his 2 toothed grin.

In the nine months Jonas has spent with us I'd never noticed it before. All this time I'd been so busy thinking about Jonas and how he made us smile, that it never crossed my mind to wonder what made him smile.

This got me thinking about God as our source of Joy. The minute Joshua was out of the house Jonas failed to be 'himself'. It was as though Joshua had packed up Joe's happiness and taken it with him. What takes our  happiness away? When I have a day where  I just can't seem to put a smile on my face what's the reason. If God is my true source of joy my happiness should never be contingent on my circumstances. Circumstances may change but God never does. When Joshua left Jonas felt abandoned, he stood in front of the door and watched him drive away. The Bible tells us though, that God will never leave us or forsake us. No matter what happens in our lives, through disappointments, death , and tragedy, we are never without Him and His love for us. My happiness should never 'walk out the door' if it is rooted in Christ because He never leaves and neither does His faithfulness. He is always right beside us. Which is exactly where Jonas likes Joshua to be - right beside him.