One of the most defining characteristics of heaven is joy. Shouldn’t the defining characteristic of those who are headed toward that destination be the same? 

Philippians 4:4 essentially says, “More joy, please!” 

Joy is not something we create. It has already been created. It comes from the joyful presence and nature of our God. It most often arrests us when we are in the middle of something of deep meaning and purpose. Allow me to give you a personal example. 

I had the privilege of spending a few hours with our younger granddaughter yesterday afternoon. When you are in the company of a sixteen-month-old child, you operate largely on her schedule and engage in her preferred activities. 

We ventured into her mother’s home office where we found her shopping cart. Inside it was a pair of her shoes. She took one of the shoes and ventured toward her bedroom taking the long way around. Upon arriving there, she toddled over to her closet, which was closed. 

She placed her hands on the closet door and turned to me for assistance in opening it. Stepping inside, she found some freshly laundered clothes and picked up the first item, and began swinging it around in the hand which did not hold her shoe. Then she placed the shoe in the closet next to her others and left the garment behind as she turned toward her dirty clothes in the hamper next to the door.

She lifted her used pajamas and pulled them around her neck like a stole. She eventually placed the garment on her head and left the room. She looked a lot like children in a Christmas play at this point. I followed her to the front door where she placed her hands on it and looked up to me to open it. 

We had a short discussion about the cool weather and the rain falling outside. She took a look through the window and moved closer for a better look by raising one of the slats of the blinds. She was satisfied that we could manage the weather with her additional improvised wrap.

She raised her arms for me to pick her up, and of course, I did. We stepped outside onto the porch and looked around at the gently falling rain and the normal activity of the day. 

We sat on the porch swing and observed squirrels in the trees across the street. One found an acorn and leaped onto the nearby house where he enjoyed his snack. He then returned for another acorn before hopping back on the roof of the house and finding the pinnacle above the front door to observe his world and all the good things God provided.

Our granddaughter pointed out the Amazon truck passing by. We each wondered why it didn’t stop this time. It does so regularly (and did so later in the afternoon). She also pointed out the Post Office truck which was not far behind the Amazon driver. 

We commented on the seasonal pillows her mother so carefully placed. We observed the heavier amounts of water falling from the corner of the roof. We felt the cool of the day on our faces. We held one another for a good long time in silent perusal of a perfect moment.

Herein is joy.

More joy, please.

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I will open the door of my life to more joy.

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Our Father, you are supremely joyful. Make us ever more like you. Make us joy finders, joy sharers, and joy bearers. Amen.