Joy – noun - the emotion of great
delight or happiness caused
by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation
Recently, I have allowed my frustrations to take my
joy. On December 6th, 2012 I was admitted into the hospital with double pneumonia. I am
used to being in the hospital with pneumonia. In the past it has occurred once
a year. A couple years ago it became twice a year and this past year I have
been in the hospital four times with pneumonia. This last time in December was
the hardest and it has been most difficult to recover.
When I was first admitted I had so many praying for
my recovery, unfortunately, I was praying for the opposite. I was tired of
gasping for air, coughing, choking, and fighting for my life. I had allowed my
illness to take away my joy. A friend’s son came to see me on the night before
a difficult procedure that was suppose to take the fluid out of my lungs. I
hadn’t seen this young man for many years, and he entered my hospital room very
upset and said, “Man, Cathy, you have always been a fighter. You are my hero.
You can’t give up!” That’s when I knew I had allowed my situation to rob me of
my joy.
At that point I gave it to God. To quote a country
western song, I decided to “Let Jesus Take the Wheel” (Why does one always
refer to country western songs in times of trouble?). I was okay with whatever
happened one way or the other. I was ready to fight.
I was released from the hospital on December 16th.
I stayed home from the 16th to January 6, 2013. There were
some very rough times. I was so tired and there were times when I couldn’t even
hold my head up. One day I even had to ask for a hug. And again, like the fool
that I am, I started to allow my situation to snatch my joy. What was I
thinking? People wanted to take me to the movies, lunch and shopping and I was
afraid to leave the house. I had depleted my self of my joy.
I was up early this morning coughing, choking and
flipping channels when I came across Joel Osteen giving a sermon on Joy and not
letting bad situations, or mean people take away your joy! Jesus took the
wheel, again. God never said, if we followed him we wouldn’t have bad things
happen to us. He has only promised to be there to comfort us when they do. It
is my responsibility to keep from allowing bad situations or people to keep
from absconding with my joy.
I have a dear friend that I have philosophical text
discussions with just about every Sunday morning. We are from completely
different worlds but are so much alike. I secretly call her the “Quote Queen”. I
always share with her my spiritual epiphanies and she always sends me a bevy of
quotes about my epiphany and then texts her own amazing thoughts. This morning
I was sharing my new epiphany on being responsible for one’s own joy and she
sent me the following quotes:
“It depends on how we look at things, not on how
they are themselves.” Carl Gustav Jung
“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult
undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful
outcome.” William James
“”We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy
because we laugh.” William James
“Man can alter his life by altering his thinking.”
William James
I’ve told students in the past and the one’s I
teach now that attitude is everything and here I am not practicing what I
preach. My new epiphany: To find joy in everything I come across and everyone I
meet. Or as Caren would say, “Stop being a pissypants!” If the reader is a friend, family member or
someone I work with, I may need gentle reminder of my joy epiphany. One is
welcome to nudge or shout, “pissypants”.
DON'T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING TAKE YOUR JOY!
Paco’s Perspective
I find joy in twirling three times before entering
or exiting a room. I find joy in licking the grout. I find joy in drinking
Caren’s wine. Y’all call it obsessive compulsive I call it joy.
The Flip Side
I find joy in lizard and rabbit chasing and long
runs with the golf cart. I wish everyone would make it their responsibility to
make sure that I am joyous. Ooooops, I forgot my joy is my responsibility, but I can't reach the gate lock.
