The children were putting roses on the altar to remember those we have lost this year. They lined up to practice, flowers in hand and I began to read the names of those now gone. There, just tall enough to see over the altar is the one who's always smiling. My eyes glimpse the next name and I wonder what his reaction will be. You see the next name is his grandmother's. I take a breath...say the name...watch for his reaction.
His eyes grow big and he leans over and whispers, "That's my Nanna." I keep thinking about his face. How he looks with rounded eyes and a smile that says...this is the greatest thing in the world. He just lives life like that. He carries joy like no one I've ever met. It reminds me of a scripture found in Luke.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.I woke up with a list of things to do and frankly there wasn't much joy on the inside. My little friend has a good portion of joy. It's packed down and shaken for sure. He just overflows with it, and in that moment the joy fell right into my lap.
Time and time again God uses the kids I am so blessed to serve to teach me big lessons. Each morning I have a choice. In a moment I can choose overwhelmed...frustrated...fearful or I can choose peace...love...joy. Each one can be packed down and shaken. The choice overflows to all of those I encounter each day. And what I want most is for the joy and love and peace to overflow and fall right into the lap of someone who needs it. If you look at it that way...there's not much of a choice.
