Life is Better with Joy

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit with my grandchildren, ages three and five for a few days. My wife ordered one of those playsets from Costco that comes in five boxes and thousands of screws and bolts. The box said that it would take 14-16 hours to assemble but under the careful eye of the three-year-old, with his constant help and attention, it is still not done after 30+ hours. However, his joy has been beyond full. In the beginning, as the structure began to take shape, the whole thing was a quite unsteady but after all four sides were up along with several stakes, pounded into the ground. The two grandkids could hardly wait to climb the ladder and once we completed attaching the swinging section all bets were off. They begged for the swings to be set up which I obliged. I’m a tad of a softy when it comes to those two.

Even in its incomplete state, the joy they had was full. One could hear the laughter and screams of joy climbing around and riding the swing, asking for another push. My grandson wanted to be the first one up on the third level when I attached a telescope, and he got up there by himself. As my time winded down, however the slide had not been attached. As the last day ended, and the sun began to set, I attached the last four screws needed to secure the slide. It was a double slide. My grandson scrambled up and then he paused, he called for his sister to be with him, so they could go down together. It turned into one of those, melt your heart moments as they both went down, laughing the whole time, talking with each other.

On the flight back to Alaska, I pondered about those two amazing grandchildren and what they had taught me. First, somethings do not need to be complete or done to be happy. Many times, in our lives we have said, “When this is done, then it will be easier.” But is it really easier? Or we have said, “After I graduate college” or “Get this job, then I will be happy”, these two reminded me that joy is in the journey. Your life, your plans do not have to be complete to be happy, sometimes we are under the illusion that happiness happens at certain times or after certain circumstances have occurred. As the phrase goes, “The joy is in the journey!”

Second, life is best enjoyed with others. Enjoyment and contentment magnify in the presence of those we love. As Paul taught the Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (KJV Galatians 5:22-23). When I saw my grandchildren playing happily, I felt the light of Christ in them, pure joy, gentleness and goodness, just like the scripture said. I began to wonder, when was the last time I felt and experienced those feelings with others? There is more to life than work.

Now, with the crunch of leaves and frost underfoot, I see these heralds of fall and think of the upcoming joy of the holidays. I hope to watch more attentively for moments of joy these small miracles bring, and to foster the childlike wonder that attend them. We often get so caught up with life, work, drama, and busyness that we forget to enjoy and feel the fruits of the spirit in our lives. As we move toward the thoughts of Thanksgiving, Christmas and even New Years in our hearts and minds, I hope that we can be reminded in the simple joy of children, the joys of the season, the fruits of the spirit as it works on our hearts and souls. I pray that we may feel the Light of Christ in our lives more often.

John Boston is a local physician, member of the Alaska Air National Guard and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a believer in Christ.