Keep Your Joy

Funny story.  A couple weeks ago, I had been working on this month's letter to send to you. But when I went back to find it -- just two days before my trip -- all my hard work was nowhere to be found. 

Poof!  Gone into cyberspace, eaten by a computer.

Has that ever happened to you?

I was sort of frustrated.  (Okay, more than sort of....).  I had LOTS to do to get ready to leave the country for two weeks, and I was so proud of myself for having worked on this letter in advance so I couldsend it to you before I left.

Just as I was beginning to panic, my friend Marie sent me an e-mail  (thanks, Marie!).  It arrested me right where I stood, and I just HAD to send the story to you this month.  Even if you've seen it before, read it again.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

"One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

That's when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' 

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. 

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day."

No One Can Steal Your Joy

A simple story to prove what God has been telling us all along -- don't let life steal your joy.  Don't let circumstances (lost newsletters, overdue bills, rude people, or the nightly news, determine how you're going to feel.

Philippians 4:4 tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS" and in case we missed it, it goes on to say, "AGAIN I say REJOICE!"  Then verse 6 tells us that we shouldn't fret or have ANY anxiety about ANYTHING.

Selah.

No one or no thing can steal your joy unless you let it.  So hang on to your joy this month!  Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't, and determine to let your light shine!