_{Is there room for JOY?}

Words to SPARK your Heart-Song from our co-founder Sherry Douglas.

uplifting #positive #encouraging #motivational #troyohio #miamicountyohio #heartsong

Hi everyone. I’m Sherry Douglas with Heart-Song. The other day I turned on a playlist of beautiful Christmas music by a variety of artists. As I listened, I found my body relaxing from a jam-packed day and my heart opening to the message the songs offered of hope, peace, and joy.

For many of us, the season of Christmas brings more activities, more cooking and baking, more spending, more rushing. Sometimes we try to squeeze in one more party, one more gift, or one more shopping trip. More, more, and more. Sometimes the “more” are good things, but even those can lead to exhaustion and feeling eager for Christmas to be over.

The reason we have Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. After he was born, an angel appeared in the sky and said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people.” Great JOY for all people. That’s JOY for you and me, our neighbors, co-workers, and our family members. JOY to the world!

With all of our frantic motion of “more,” though, is there room for JOY? What if we intentionally shift our attention from the hustle and bustle to the JOY the angel promised us? If we accept this message of JOY, our Christmas experience will focus on what truly matters. We can still attend our parties, buy gifts to give, and bake goodies, but those things will be by-products of our JOY. Merry Christmas, everyone! Let’s live the way we want to be remembered.

See you next week.