Finding Joy

weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalms 3O:5

“Joy cometh in the morning.” As encouraging as it sounds, there has been a decided lack of joy in my circle. This has been true for much of the summer. Our world has been surrounded in a haze of catastrophic predictions. There has been little cause for rejoicing. In a moment of changing fortunes. I feel more optimistic than I have in a while. The mood has bled over into thoughts of joy.

I grew up in a small resort town in northern Wisconsin. Every summer the town doubled in size. Citizens of the city wanted to experience some of what we enjoyed all year long. We welcomed them and some of the returning part-time residents became our friends. It didn’t matter that they were different than we were. In the ways that mattered, we were one.

Patriotism was important to my grandparents. Every morning my grandfather raised the American flag on a tall flag pole in our front yard. One day a tourist walked in the front door to mail a letter. She thought the flag indicated this must be the post office. No, it just demonstrated my grandfather’s love for our Country.

As I become older, the influence of my grandmother becomes more and more telling. Later in life, I realized the guiding light she was. Oddly, I had to grow into her before I recognized her importance in my life. Her dignity, courage and sense of service to others are traits I admire.

I sometimes wonder what my grandmother would think of the world we live in. She was a liberal Republican. I’m not sure if there would be a place for her in today’s political climate. I do think she would encourage a positive view of what our future will be. She would share an opinion focusing on the great country we are.

During the coming months, I will focus on what brings joy to my life. I refuse to believe in the prophecies of doom and gloom. We have a choice to make. I believe we will come to the honorable conclusion. We will choose freedom over fear.