You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Joy, as evidenced from this and many other verses in the Bible, seems to increase the closer we draw to God. My daughter Daria has Down syndrome and is non-verbal, yet she and others like her seem to find joy in the smallest things. Often I am not even sure why she starts to laugh, but she is tickled by something I haven’t even noticed! When I’m grumpy and having a difficult time feeling joyful, it is easy to look to her for inspiration. Things don’t have to be going well in order to feel the joy of being near to God. There is a purity to children and babies that reminds me not to be cynical and to appreciate all that God has given me, and to see God’s wondrous and merciful hand in all that is around me, as evidenced in even the smallest of things: colors, lights, music, wind, sparkles, flowers, sunshine, clouds, insects, socks, or even tongues!
Artist: Johanna, digital painting
3 Comments
Add Yours →Love the picture of Daria, and especially love the insight you wrote!
I love this, Johanna. The glimpses of joy we have now (even through the pleasures seen through a child’s eyes in creation – and how precious she is) are only hints of the joy yet to be revealed!
This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday. It’s a Latin word, meaning “Rejoice.” Daria is a blessing to all in showing us joy, which you, Johanna, have captured well.