J is for Jesus, for He gets first place
O is for others we meet face to face
Y is for you, in whatever you do
put yourself last and spell JOY!
I can't type those words without singing them in my head!
At Christmas time I decorate the house with all JOY ornaments and decorations because of this little song. Whenever I see the word joy or meet someone named Joy my mind automatically says Jesus Others and You...
It's really a good perspective to have in the Christian life. The Bible teaches us quite a bit about joy. Telling us to be filled with it. Mind you we are not told to be filled with 'happiness' but the joy of the Lord. For quite some time I was confused about this, I'm not always 'happy' but I do have peace in my heart thanks to Jesus. Even when I don't feel like it, I have His Spirit within me. I have been filled with Jesus since the day of my salvation (whether I feel it or not).
I esteemed myself and tried to create a career woman out of myself. Thinking that I must climb the corporate ladder in order to 'be somebody'. The glass ceiling exists as well as the realization that without a degree I was a glorified 'nobody' in my corporate life...
All of this, lock, stock, and barrel left me feeling flat. Now, mind you, I became a Christian as an adult, but it took years before I realized that all those life aspirations I had about that proverbial ladder were simply a lie.
I already was 'somebody' and in Christ I AM somebody! Praise God!
Now my life has balance. I am a worker, administration is in my nature, which God gave me. And now, I can use this gift to further His kingdom! I am a worker, an assistant to my spouse, whom God gave me. And now I can use that gift to further His kingdom! It's all relative. My abilities are not my doing, God placed them there and then gave me opportunities to hone them and make them useful.
Life is a beautiful thing, like a well tuned orchestra, when one allows the Lord to be the conductor.
So, as the song says,
Jesus is first. When we allow Jesus to take first place in our life and heart, order can begin there.
Others, those that the Lord has placed around us, in our home, in our workplace, in our neighborhood and so on. They are there for a reason; His reason(s).
You, we matter... but, we are not the center of the universe.
We have the privilege of being His ambassador, My prayer for you, dear reader, is that JOY may fill your hearts and homes during this Christmas season and throughout the coming years.
