We are in the last of our series of “Growing in Character,” and are closing with the topic of JOY! How appropriate it is for us to enter the summer with anticipation of happy memories – family vacations, lazy afternoons, summer picnics at the beach, roasting marshmallows by a campfire, and just relaxing with loved ones. However, sometimes the anticipation turns into piles of wet, sandy towels from the beach, melted string-cheese that was left in the minivan after a day at the park, bickering siblings who have spent a little too much time together, bills from that wonderful family trip, and whines of, “I’m bored!” What happened to our fun? How did we lose our joy?
 Joy is what you choose to find in the midst of your circumstances. Happiness is a by-product of our circumstances. Even though our present situation may not make us “happy,” we can make a commitment to find a glimpse of joy in our life. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says it best:
Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.
We choose our joy. Bitterness, stress, fear – these are some of our joy-robbers. By holding on to yesterday’s hurts, we allow bitterness to steal our joy. Stress, especially the ones that we don’t choose (illness, death, job lay-offs, infertility, infidelity), can immobilize us. Fear of the future and the burden of the past can make us blind to the present. And sometimes, we can just feel too exhausted to find any joy. What keeps you from finding joy in your family? What can you do to change that?Â
By releasing our joy-robbers, we can focus on making some joy. Live in contentment NOW, and embrace the moments (big or small) of each day. Forgive the past and move forward with hope. Dream for the future and teach your children to dream. Make the best of what you have – you don’t need big budgets to make memories. Say “yes” whenever you can (Can I have another cookie? Yes – pick one and put it by your plate to eat after dinner!). Be flexible and laugh (especially at yourself)! Gift your children with an opportunity to find their own joy by giving them some unstructured play time. Make time to listen to them with both eyes and both ears so that you will learn how to feed their soul and speak their love language.
Make your home a place where character qualities resonate between the walls . . . where parents and children are growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, and self-control.