Last week I jotted in my journal “Where will I find Joy this week?”
And it was found in unexpected and precious moments. Our little grandson leaping from rock to rock in a nearby playground, saying, “Yes, Grandma, I know this is dangerous!” hit our funny bone. Dangerous or not, he did it anyway, joyously living life.
There was joy in places of sadness, bringing in a Christmas tree to a young friend of mine, in last stages of cancer, and celebrating the light and joy that brought.
There was joy in the gift of a meal from our Korean friends and sharing life with them.
There was joy in the skies, as the light filtered through the winter days, making the clouds dance, against the winter blue.
This weekend we turn our focus on Love, the fourth word in our Advent Journey.
I loved this verse from Zephaniah, which I have been reading all week. It says: “Do not fear, O Zion!. (I slipped in my name instead of Zion, and it became very personal).
“Do not let your hands grow weak! The LORD your GOD is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His Love!”.
Our Creator God rejoices over us… what a wonderful thought, and we can be renewed in love.
In the craziness of this week it was good to keep coming back to these words, which were food for my soul.
So as we light the fourth candle, the candle of love, I thought of these words, the final acrostic for Advent:
LOVE, is GOD, in our midst
Light for our way, giving Life
Oh to rest in this love
washing over me, from the One who gives
Victory, manifest in weakness,
yet triumphant
Eternal and Everlasting.
