Some days are more difficult than others. Of course , you know that; every human knows this is true. Today was full of highs but was also trying. However, the joy outweighed the frustrations and the sorrows. 

Two great joys impacted me today. One was running into friends in the community that we hadn’t seen in a while, being embraced and captured into conversations. Deep relationships typically bring me deep joy. I’m talking about the kind that exist far beneath the surface of life; the kind of friendships that never require talking about the surface stuff, but instead, the conversation immediately goes to the heart. These kinds of relationships fuel me in so many ways. 

My second great joy today came from observing two of my “kids”(who are actually young adults) taking the initiative to look after their little cousins.  I smiled and my heart was very glad as I watched them play together, help them with ordering at the restaurant, get them to take their showers, and more.  How good it is for a parent to see their child take on some of the responsibilities of being an adult and of leading the younger members of our extended family. 

Yes, today had some rough spots and I’m pretty exhausted tonight, but overall , the balance of the scale measuring today has tipped to joy.