Many Reasons to Express Joy by Diane Roberts

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promise to her.

Luke 1:45

How do we express joy? It can be expressed as actively as the lame man who was healed by Peter and John. “He was walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-10) It can be expressed as quietly as the single leper (of ten) who returned to thank Jesus for his healing. (Luke 17:11-19) Our response can be either or both or somewhere in between.

I have had many reasons to express joy in my life, but there is one time that stands out to me. I was struggling as I walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago (a pilgrimage pathway that has been in use for hundreds of years). I was walking up a very long, occasionally steep hill. It was a bright Sunday morning, and I was hot and tired and ready to quit walking, but I had to continue to reach the place where we would spend the night. My husband, Easel, was walking with me, and I knew I was slowing him down. Some of our friends were just ahead and sitting in the shade, so I encouraged him to join them and wait for me there. It wasn’t far, and he could see me. He went on, and I continued to trudge up the hill. Suddenly, I heard music! It was lovely and ethereal. I thought it must be coming from the top of the hill I was climbing. It was Sunday, after all, and I knew there was a church at the top. That small bit of music gave me joy and renewed my energy to continue my journey. I reached the spot with Easel and our friends and excitedly asked if they had heard the music. They looked puzzled and said, “What music?” At that point, I claimed the music as a gift to help me on my way while hoping that it had also encouraged someone else. We continued to the top and prepared for the next challenge.

Elizabeth may have thought she was the only one to hear Mary, but her soon-to-be-born child heard the greeting as well and reacted. Elizabeth’s response was to bless Mary and the child she carried. She then told Mary about the response of her own child to the greeting and blessed Mary again. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke

1:45)

When have you felt a blessing like this? As we head into Christmas, what promises have you seen fulfilled?

DIANE ROBERTS

Janet Hill