Skip to main content

5 Minute Friday { J. O. Y. }



Joining with The Gypsy Mama for a five minute un-edited free write 
about the topic of her choice:  JOY...


:::


Not long ago, our surfer-cool priest gave a homily about joy.  He said something I haven't forgotten.  He said,   J.O.Y. stands for:
 Jesus
Others
You

If we live life in that order we will find an everlasting joy.

It's a simple acronym for ordering our priorities.  The truth is, I usually live my life like this:

Y(me). O. J.

While I am often joyful, I think living joy backwards is a short-lived, shallow-depth kind of joy. It is more of a temporary happiness, an instant-gratification joy that is in constant need of refilling.

When I do manage to turn my YOJ around, I experience a deeper peace of mind and soul.  It feels good to begin my day with the word of God, to serve my family a great breakfast, to see them into uniforms and off to school smoothly and unselfishly.  Sitting at the computer, calling out to them to wait one more minute while I finish this post (ahem!) doesn't feel like everlasting joy.

So I am off to do those things today, to re-order my disorder, and to sink deeply into the joy that only J.O.Y can bring.


:::

   



Labels:

Comments

  1. SabrinaSeptember 16, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    Hi Misty! The order of the letters is goofy no matter how we mess them up, isn't it?

    Sometimes as a people-pleaser, I fall into OJY --- I try to meet the needs of my family and friends in my own strength, then go to Jesus for a bit, and wonder why I am so run-down all the time.

    I guess if you "say it fast," OJY ends up sounding like "Oh, gee!" which is what I sighingly say when I see one MORE need from someone I love when I'm operating in my own strength.

    Keeping Jesus first...thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Wild OptimistSeptember 16, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    Hi Misty,
    Great response! I liked how you SPELLED IT OUT for us. Hoping that you find joy in abundance today- and more wisdom this weekend to share :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. MomLaurSeptember 16, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Hi Misty! Thanks for the J.O.Y. reminder...I need to remember it more often than my kids as I use it to remind them :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    What a fun way to remember our priorities- I think many of us are living back to front!

    ReplyDelete
  5. JenniferSeptember 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    I love this acronym! What truth, too. Living for Jesus and serving others is definitely the way to hold onto the joy that He gives!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AmySeptember 16, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    What a great way to think about it! I "met" you at (in)courage and thought I'd check out your blog. So glad I did!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Theresa MillerSeptember 16, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Yes, I remember it as a child that acronym. Jesus, others, you. It's a wonderful and simple reflection for where my focus should daily be.

    ReplyDelete
  8. BethSeptember 16, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    Okay, I've never seen that acronym for Joy before, but I needed to! I think I might sometimes do O.Y.J.... and need to switch it, big time. What a great reminder, thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

~Grace and peace to you~

Popular posts from this blog

Saturday Surfing {favorite spots from around the web}

Saturdays are the perfect time for a little aimless web-wandering and here are few of my recent reads I'd like to recommend to you. The Wild Surrender of Motherhood by Carrie Ann Moss @Annapurna Living This new website launched this week and is absolutely lovely. Remember Carrie Ann Moss from the Matrix movies? Well she is now the founder and inspiration behind this blog.  Here is an excerpt of her vision for annapurnaliving.com : FROM CARRIE-ANNE ... “To see womanhood through eyes of grace.”  My desire is to live in a world where nourishment is valued. I believe a nourished family will lead to a nourished world. I believe life is beautiful and that our divine purpose in this world is to nurture the earth by respecting it and being grateful for what it provides us. My wish is to inspire others to create beautiful, honest and satisfying lives. My Other Ex: Women's True Stories of Leaving and Losing Friends   @A Design So Vast Unfortunately, over the pa...
7 comments
Read more

At the Water's Edge {52 Photos Project}

Sometimes I have to pinch myself that where we live, day after day, is actually a vacation destination for many people who come from far away to spend a weekend on the beach. They may have saved money for months to afford a few days splashing around in the waves and relaxing on the san that makes up our neighborhood. I feel such gratitude that I can zip down the beach road on a whim, as we did yesterday, with less than two hours to spare; we simply needed to swim in the sea. It was almost 100 degrees outside and the sun gleamed in a brilliant blue sky. So off we went, while Kai was at camp, to the beach.  The older two boys swam gleefully as I read Bread and Wine and dreamed of delicious meals to make my sun-kissed family for dinner. At one point I looked up and snapped this photo of my view. Then I pinched myself. This really is our home , our daily vacation spot, the place my boys have now lived for longer than anywhere else in their lives. We are living this beachy ...
6 comments
Read more

Petals :: 52 Photos Project

Where I live the Bradford Pears have bloomed and blown and the Cherry Blossoms are in full blossom.  Even though that means our allergy season is now officially underway, I cannot help opening our windows every morning in hopes of hearing the birds singing to greet the day.  Springtime has conveniently coincided with my personal recovery process from knee surgery.  As I am slowly re-gaining mobility on crutches it seems an added encouragement that the weather is also improving and the trees are welcoming my return with their flowers. What a treat it would be to be able to put down my crutches in time for Easter Sunday and walk again on my own! (I am doubtful but one can hope.) Sharing with 52 Photos Project :: Petals
4 comments
Read more