If I could choose a characteristic to describe myself, one of the ones would be JOY! Joy is part of my name, the meaning of my name is "Joyful One". I have experienced a deep, abiding joy that comes only from the Lord, and I try to express joy to all of those around me.
Quick background: I sing in our church's choir. I do not sing well, but as the Bible says, I "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". Music is not my gift...but I like to sing.
Yesterday as myself and two sons were traveling home from school, I had the Easter cantata music playing and was "practicing" singing while driving. Out of the blue - dear son (age 13) asks, "Why don't you ever smile when you're up in the choir?" This came as a surprise, I was very happy up there, didn't I smile? I asked him what he meant, and did anyone else smile? Kids are so honest: "Yes, everyone else smiles but you." Then he elaborates: "You sit up there and read the book with this mean look on your face, you look mad. Then you look at me and I think, what did I do? You look like you want to hit someone." OUCH! So, apparently my inner joy isn't radiating to my face! Our pastor will occasionally make the comment; "If you are happy, you need to tell your face".
So, I plan to practice smiling more, especially in the choir. Thank son for the gentle reminder!
"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:1,2
Quick background: I sing in our church's choir. I do not sing well, but as the Bible says, I "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". Music is not my gift...but I like to sing.
Yesterday as myself and two sons were traveling home from school, I had the Easter cantata music playing and was "practicing" singing while driving. Out of the blue - dear son (age 13) asks, "Why don't you ever smile when you're up in the choir?" This came as a surprise, I was very happy up there, didn't I smile? I asked him what he meant, and did anyone else smile? Kids are so honest: "Yes, everyone else smiles but you." Then he elaborates: "You sit up there and read the book with this mean look on your face, you look mad. Then you look at me and I think, what did I do? You look like you want to hit someone." OUCH! So, apparently my inner joy isn't radiating to my face! Our pastor will occasionally make the comment; "If you are happy, you need to tell your face".
So, I plan to practice smiling more, especially in the choir. Thank son for the gentle reminder!
"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:1,2
Oh, the brutal honesty of children. Sometimes mine make me cringe, sometimes they make my heart smile.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog and great post. :-)
OUCH! Aren't kids great? But really, who else could tell you that!
ReplyDelete