By Jon Walker
Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 MSG)
Giggling as he played on the floor with his Aunt Merilee, my young son’s eyes danced with pleasure. Christopher’s laughter was so captivating that Merilee leaned into his face and said with a grin, “I’m going to steal your giggles!”
Without warning, Christopher grabbed Merilee in a baby bear hug and planted a playful kiss on her cheek. Merilee fell back and – guess what – she giggled.
And then she giggled some more.
Finally she said, “Oh, Christopher! I was going to steal your giggles, and you gave them to me instead.”
A lesson in life from a two-year-old! So often we walk through life thinking we have to steal or earn or grab or protect the objects that we think will bring us an abundant life of joy.
We listen to worldly voices that urge, “Go for the gusto. You only live once. Grab what you can get.”
Yet, from a simple child we can learn that true joy is not taken — It’s given.
Today, instead of stealing giggles, give them away and see how many more come back to you.
What does this mean?
- You bring pleasure – You were made to be a source of pleasure and joy – to God and to others.
- Be a joy-dispenser – Laugh loudly and as often as you can. Smile at a stranger. Bless people with your joy. If you don’t have joy, then ask God to guide your heart toward true joy, found only in Christ.
- Thank God – Our Father delights in our joy and loves our laughter. Ask him to increase your joy that you may share it with others.
- Point others to Jesus-joy – “By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 MSG)
If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.