“Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.” -George Whitefield

I was feeling down. I won’t go into details, but a weary sadness had settled in.

On my way back home from an errand, it occurred to me that joy was a fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life. Maybe he could help. So, I began talking to him, telling him that I was sad. Immediately it occurred to me that I should sing Joy to the World. So I sang it all the way home. And I thought about the words: Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room. My heart felt a little lighter.

Then I saw the accumulated snow/ice at the end of my driveway and realized I’d better get that out of there before it froze again. So I grabbed a shovel and started to work. Ten minutes later, I saw our neighbor coming across the yard saying, “Let me do that.” He took the shovel and finished the job. But, the best part was that he was dressed in a red sweatshirt with brightly colored ornaments – the kind of shirt that made me smile.

I went in the house to wrap Christmas gifts, thinking of the people I love and the gifts I want them to have. Happy thoughts moved in. Joy had returned.

There is joy in Christmas, but I had lost it. A little conversation with the Holy Spirit brought it back. All I had to do was ask, listen, and do what he said. I love how he works – through music, neighbors, or silly sweatshirts. He will do it for you, too. He doesn’t make all our troubles go away, but he does bring joy in the middle of them – if we ask, if we let him.

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24b