“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 17:13)
“I’d make more mistakes next time,” said 85-year-old Nadine Stair when asked what she would do if she had her life to live over again. “I’d relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
“You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else—just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle and a raincoat.
“If I had to do it over again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”
In His final prayer, Jesus prayed that His disciples would experience the full measure of his joy—now. He prayed for us to have His joy in the middle of rush-hour traffic, screaming kids and a darkening world. He doesn’t want us to wait for heaven to be full of joy.
Jesus’ joy has a divine purpose: to reveal Him. He desires to fill us with overflowing joy, to proclaim His victory to the world over life’s worst conditions—even in the face of hurricanes, plagues, terrorism and nuclear disaster.
But as Nadine tells us, joy flows from a foundation of truth. So many times we focus on imaginary troubles. But Jesus reminds us that joy comes from knowing the Father through the Son. As you reflect on your life, whether you’re 18, 38, 48 or 88, choose to live in fullness of joy by taking the time to pick more daisies … and by living each moment fully aware of God’s love for you.
Reflection
- On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your joy factor?
- After reading Nadine’s comments, do you relate to her when she talks about allowing imaginary troubles to interrupt joy?
- What might you do today to experience more joy?
This devotional is excerpted from Women’s Devotional Bible.
