I love that some cultures say, “Happy Christmas.” I like “Merry Christmas,” but Happy Christmas feels different for some reason.
The word merry means cheerful and lively.
The word happy means feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
Both sound great!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas!
But even better than both merry and happy is joy.
Being happy and making merry are temporary. They are fleeting. They are very much dependent on circumstances.
Joy, on the other hand, is different.
Joy is long-lasting.
Joy endures.
Joy is sneaky!
Joy finds its way into moments of despair.
Joy seeps into the cracks of hopelessness.
Joy brings light into the darkest places.
Where in your life are you needing more than merry or happy? Where are you needing joy right now?
Maybe Luke 2:10-12 will help:
But the angel said to them [the shepherds], “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (emphasis added).
J.R.R. Tolkien says it another way. This is entitled “Noel,” and while Tolkien never uses the word “joy” in this piece, it shouts of joy, nonetheless.
Grim was the world and grey last night:
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.
The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind,
the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.
The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.
Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.
Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.
If that doesn’t bring a sneaky sense of enduring joy into the dark places, read it again.
If you’d like to talk more about recognizing joy, send me an email or schedule some one-on-one time with me. And consider subscribing to my blog where I post lots of helpful suggestions on how you can begin (and continue) this journey of recovering your blueprint!
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