He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

psalm 147:3

i find it amazing how easily joy can be stolen. kari and talk about this sometimes; in the course of her day, there are events that happen that can throw a wet blanket of grump on the candle of joy. staff conflicts, defiant kids, errant words...all these things seem to conspire to steal away the joy that we start the day with. this morning i felt like the joy-stealer at home. we got up and got moving; em wanted to wear her 'santa dress' and it was dirty. me trying to explain that to her led me to being short and her to tears. same thing happened with kristyn over something small; but my sharp words stole a touch of her joy. it is amazing how easily joy can be stolen from us if we don't guard it; and how easy it can become to steal someone else's joy.

something i've become aware of is this -- my joy can only be taken if i allow it to be taken. events happen, things come along, but how i view them and interact with them determines whether or not my joy will be kindled, dampened, or snuffed out. it's up to me in a sense to decide how i'll let my joy be impacted today, everyday. along these lines -- we also have to choose how we'll impact someone else's joy! will you feed the joy-flame, or pinch the wick out with sharp words or a grinchy attitude? i've chosen that option already today, and it stunk. so now i will choose to give joy rather than take it.

something lastly to consider...read about this a while ago, think it's pretty awesome. as a parent, we pray for our kids. something to try -- after they are asleep, sneak in, lay your hand on their head or whatever, and pray for them. for healing from the heart wounds of the day; for them to be released and protected to sleep well, and for their joy to be kindled and overflowing when they wake up. it's a pretty cool thing to do; and it seems to work! funny how God will indeed heal and bind up brokenness when we ask Him to.