I
am older today, and hopefully wiser. I’ve always liked having a birthday two
days before the Fourth of July. As a kid, I would pretend all the fireworks
were for me. Yes, the entire country wanted to celebrate my birthday. I’m just
soooooo famous. I imagined having a first kiss under the night sky as it
exploded with color. Ahhh, and who doesn’t like the smell of burnt firecrackers
and the sizzle of sparklers? All for me.
But
the truth is—and here is where the wiser part fits in—joy won’t happen if all I
live for is serving me. I spent enough years trying to wiggle my way into the mouse
size tunnel of perfectionism, where all the perfectly happy people hide. Even
if I could reach such a place, it would be boring. A place where perfect people
spend all their time staying perfect.
Joy
happens when we give our lives to God and seek His will. Even the smallest
gesture of kindness to our fellow imperfect neighbors adds a notch to our joy
line. The closer I follow Jesus, the wiser I’ll be. No matter what age. Let’s
spread joy today, and I’ll share the fireworks.
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