Time for Joy

What a treat! Barry and I had dropped off Nolan to bowl with some friends, Anson was at a band practice and we were getting to have a date night. We rolled up to one of our favorite casual restaurants and noticed that there was a concert in progress in the outdoor eating area.

We got our food and happily carried our trays outside to listen to the percussion group. They had all kinds of hand drums (my hubby knows all the names of these exotic instruments but to me they're all "bongo drums"), shakers and wood blocks.

The music was great but the thing that started to capture my attention was how much FUN the musicians were having. There were big grins on every face. Hips were shaking, heads were nodding and feet were tapping. You can imagine how contagious it was to the crowd. Everyone was having a wonderful time.

I've been reflecting ever since. Just when did I adopt the idea that serving God and bringing Him glory is all about duty? Too often I look at my calendar and realize that it's filled with things that I feel obligated to but not necessarily called to.

My heart's desire above all things is to bring God glory. Sometimes that does mean self-discipline, duty and work. Sometimes, though, it brings God great glory for the rest of creation (or nobody at all) to see me joyfully doing something that I was created/hard-wired to love--laying in our hammock with a good book, putting brightly colored flowers into the soil, singing at the top of my lungs in my car with Travis Cottrell (he loves it, he really does) or some other lucky recording artist. Enjoying life.

I challenge you today. Take time, even if it's just a few minutes, to do something you truly love today. I'll bet it's going to bring as big of a smile to God's face as it does to yours.