#tammynischan
Unexplainable Joy Leads to Cheerful Giving (#wtsdevo joy)
Seven years ago, our family had the opportunity to visit an orphanage for disabled children in India that our son’s foundation helps support financially. I’ll never forget the long journey to reach these children. After a fifteen hour flight from America to New Delhi, we travelled six hours by car and twelve hours by train in order to reach the tiny town in which these children lived. My visualization of poverty transformed as we made our way to the orphanage. Women bathing children on broken sidewalks, families of five traveling together on one motorcycle, small children begging for money on every corner………………..
Nothing about my life seemed to be lacking anymore.
I looked out the window of the train as we moved along the bumpy track, and the sea of homes made from all kinds of random material with lines of laundry strung between them moved me to tears. I thought about the children we would soon be meeting. I wondered what kinds of conditions they lived in and what it would take to make them happy. Almost immediately, my mind jumped to thoughts of my suitcase and what I had packed as gifts for the kids at the orphanage………………….
Candy.
Small, hard candy in plastic wrappers.
This was all we had brought for these little children who needed so much more.
I felt certain my hands would feel empty as I reached out to give such a little gift to children with such great needs.
When we finally reached our destination and made our way to the home where these children lived, I found myself second-guessing the gifts in my bag. Although we had been told the kids would love little pieces of candy, I was sure we should have brought clothes or books …….. gifts that would last much longer.
As the door to their home opened, a group of young children – some deaf, some blind, some crippled – greeted us excitedly.
My family and I began hugging them, and I found myself completely overwhelmed with the huge smiles on their faces. These children, with so many reasons to feel unloved and forgotten, were beaming with joy in spite of all the aspects of their lives that could have caused them to weep.
As we handed out our tiny gifts, the children squealed. I couldn’t imagine them being any happier than they were in that moment. Our candy, in their hands, seemed like precious gold.
And then the most unbelievable thing happened.
Children started coming towards us, one by one, trying to give the candy back.
I was confused at first, “Why would they want to give back the very thing they had just received so joyfully?”
Our guide must have realized our entire family was confused as we were trying to push candy into the hands of children who were pushing it back into ours. He smiled and explained that the children were so happy to see us and this was their way of trying to say “thank you” for our visit to India. Since they had nothing else to give in return, they were giving the one thing they had…………….candy. No one was forcing them to give. No one was asking them to even say, “thank you.” Their hearts were so full of joy that giving was the natural response.
Tears ran down my face as I realized this is exactly what 2 Cor. 9:7 would look like if it were captured in a photograph.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
These children, who had nothing, were teaching me what it means to give freely and joyfully.
Several years have passed since I stood in that tiny village in India surrounded by children who had every reason to feel sad but instead chose to feel joy, but my heart still feels just as overwhelmed when I think about their faces….their beautiful faces beaming with joy as they tried to give back the one thing they could offer us as a “thank you.”
My face should beam with joy today as I think about all the ways God has blessed my own life. Because of this joy, I should want to cheerfully give back to Him in every possible way I can in order to say “thank you.”
No matter what you’re facing in life, find reasons to feel joy and turn to God with a beaming face, cheerfully giving back to Him from the blessings He has so freely given you…..even when they seem like tiny pieces of candy wrapped in plastic. Overwhelm Him with your joy in spite of your circumstances and watch what happens. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
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Devotional Series: Joy (#wtsdevo joy)
By: Tammy \ Personal//Walk the Same
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Joy in a Prison Cell (#wtsdevo joy)
I was nine years old when my minister preached a sermon on Philippians. I remember vividly his description of Paul’s conditions in prison as he wrote this book- a cold, damp cell. Isolation from those he loved. An uncertain tomorrow. Paul had every reason to complain and feel anything but joy. Yet in Philippians 4:4 he penned the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!” I can almost see my little hand grasping the bright blue ink pen as I carefully underlined those words in my Bible. “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say, Rejoice!” I remember thinking, “If Paul can rejoice while he is in prison, surely I can rejoice no matter what I might face in life.”
Many years have passed since I claimed Philippians 4:4 as my life verse. I have now been married thirty years and have four adult children. I also have two children waiting for me in Heaven – a daughter who died of SIDS in 1992 and a son who died of brain cancer in 2008.
When I underlined that verse in my Bible many years ago, I had no idea just how often I would cling to it in times of great sadness. I love the thought that even though I didn’t know what was coming in my life, God did. And I believe He knew I needed this particular verse planted deep in my soul.
Are you facing a tough season right now?
If so, take some time to read Philippians 4 and think about Paul’s ability to praise God in the midst of great uncertainty and suffering. Ask God to help you learn how to rejoice even when very little about life makes sense.
He promises in Psalm 126:5 that if we “sow in tears we will reap songs of joy!” I have seen Him keep this promise in my own life time and time again.
Life is hard. There will be tears.However, God is good. And He promises joy to those who live for Him.
I am praying for you today. Praying you have a day filled with unexplainable joy!____________________________________________
Devotional Series: Joy (#wtsdevo joy)
By: Tammy \ Personal//Walk the Same
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