Mia Joy

I love to see my daughter smile (which lately is all the time).  Just the other morning, while she was still asleep, I went into her room to say goodbye before I headed off to work. She opened her eyes, looked at me and smiled.  There is nothing like that feeling. She is the happiest  baby I have ever seen and she continues to surprise me each day.  I didn't even know that an 11 week old baby could smile; I thought they just ate, slept, peed and pooped until like 6 months (I know nothing about babies).  But here she is, always smiling; so full of joy.

We named her Mia Joy because we liked the sound of it, but it's amazing how much her middle name seems to fit.  She is so full of joy and seems to bring joy to anyone who spends time with her. (especially now that she's sleeping through the night!)

The Bible talks frequently about "joy." In fact, just in the Psalms, the subject of joy comes up 45 times. In nearly all of them, the source of our joy is God Himself. For example:

-  You [God] have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
    (Psalm 4:7 HCSB)

 -  Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. (Psalm 34:5 HCSB)

 -  But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy. (Psalm 68:3 HCSB)

When I see my daughter smile, I see a joy unhindered by this fallen and sinful world.  She doesn't worry about anything, because there's nothing for which to worry.  She is loved by her mother and me, but more than that she is loved by God.  My prayer every day is that she will never lose that joy.  Life is tough and it only gets harder as the years go on, but I want her to know that she can always find joy if she'll give her life to Jesus.

Maybe that's what Jesus was talking about when said that we should come before Him like little children.  Little Children have joy unhindered by this fallen and sinful world.  I want to be joyful like my daughter and I want to find that joy in God.  And with a God like ours, no matter what may come, why would we not be joyful?