Points of Joy

While walking on my driveway a few months after my husband passed away, I noticed how beautifully the early morning light was falling on my house and on the small crepe myrtle bush blooming beside my driveway. I couldn't resist stopping three or four times to take photos with the camera on my cell phone. 

I thought, My senses are waking up like they do whenever I become sleepily aware of my surroundings after a sound sleep. Indeed, I felt more alert than I had in weeks.

As I savored those feelings, I recalled having heard a guest on a podcast say, "Don't set a goal of being happy. Happiness is an illusion. It comes and goes, depending on the circumstances. Instead, look for points of joy throughout your day. The more points of joy you experience, the happier you'll feel. To experience more points of joy, use your five senses." 

That's what I did as I continued my morning walk. Sure enough, I experienced points of joy as I felt the gentle breeze on my skin and heard the chirping of birds as they flew around the yard. 

I did this pointillism design
while chatting on the phone with a friend.
It won't ever win an award,
but it brought me joy as I created it.

I suddenly remembered watching a friend create a stunning portrait of Jesus by using a technique called pointillism. Using a felt tip pen, he'd dot-dot-dot the ink on paper. By strategically placing hundreds of small dots, he created the illusion of lines and shapes without actually drawing or painting them. 

Just as hundreds and hundreds of small dots can form a beautiful image on paper or canvas, many points of joy can create a happier life. Dot. Dot. Dot. Joy. Joy. Joy. Voila!

To learn more about pointillism and see how the "masters" did it, click here: 

https://puntillismo.org/en/pointillism-for-kids 

https://finearttutorials.com/guide/pointillism/

Not Dead--Again!

A column in our local newspaper was entitled “I woke up not dead again in [name of town].” Intrigued by that title, I read what else the columnist had to say. 

He said he had awakened at 6 a.m. (without his alarm having sounded) and checked his big toe to see if it had a tag attached to it. It didn’t.

Having concluded he wasn't dead, he proceeded to enjoy a day filled with blessings, such as: a delicious cup of coffee, a favorite breakfast, a free concert by backyard birds, a morning walk, a beautiful sunrise, a humorous e-mail from a dear friend, e-mails from his children, an inspirational sermon at church, a delicious brunch at a local restaurant, and a round of golf in the afternoon.

“Even though I know that none of us will get out of here alive,” he said, “…I rejoice whenever I wake up not dead.”

Dear Reader, let's join him in being grateful for every morning we wake up not dead again. Let's also join him in thanking our Father for all the other blessings He lavishes upon us.

Morning by morning, 

God wakes me up 

and

opens my understanding to His will

Isaiah 50:4