The Seeds of Joy

Editorial by
Marjorie Kinnee

Text: Psalm 107:21-22 - "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declate His works with rejoicing."

In a recent devotion, I read that the New Testament Greek word, chairo, is translated as both joy and grace. It's also the center of the Greek word for thanksgiving. The author suggested a connection and I began to ponder on the significance of this concept.

My mind drew a pathway between thanksgiving and joy and found it paved with grace. It came to me that the seeds of joy are implanted by and in a thankful heart, and, that thanksgiving is the soil in which joy grows best. I began to think about people I have known who displayed a heart of thanksgiving. To a man, (or woman,) each name and face that came to mind were persons of joy. It radiated from their faces and in their actions. What's more, many of the other "fruits of the Spirit" were also manifest in these joyful ones.

It appears as though I've stumbled onto a secret, that really isn't a secret at all! It does require a bit of "seek and ye shall find," but it's not hard to see once you know where to look. We know that Jesus is the Author of our joy, so when we begin to think on His goodness and grace toward us, our families, our friends, and in general; thanksgiving is artesian - it just springs up and flows out.

If joy springs up out of a thankful heart, it behooves us to begin to voice our gratitude. Once we convert our thinking into the thankfulness mode, the reasons to be thankful are like the spores of dandelions, prolific and broadcast on and by the slightest breeze. The Joy dishwashing soap people used a commercial some years ago. It simply said, "Your Joy Shows." How appropriate!

If you want to radiate the joy of the Lord to the lost and dying world around you, cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. It's the seedbed of your joy!