Your first day at an amusement park. Your first game of the season. Seeing the ocean for the first time. Jumping in the pool after four long months of winter. That new movie you have been waiting to see. The new CD released by your favorite group. The Championship game. Exciting expectations breed Joy!

Children seem particularly adept at enjoying the experience; at finding joy in the journey. Whether the experience is new or familiar, if it is fun and exciting, joy will follow. There is joy in learning and learning in joy! Parents are pretty good at enjoying the 1st’s of life, at discovering joy in learning; but, children can teach parents much about discovering learning in Joy. The Bible speaks of making our joy complete in at least five books (Deut. 16:15; John 15:11; Phil. 2:2; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12).

God intends for believers to sustain joy and to express joy on a daily basis. Why else would Joy be a section of the fruit of the Spirit? Joy leads to praise. Look at Luke 10:21: “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father…” As Christian parents we should be full of joy and praise!

Do bad things happen? Do trials come? Is pain and hurt real? Do some days suck? The obvious answer is YES! But there is learning in joy. As we choose to focus upon what we do have rather than upon what we do not have; as we focus upon our eternal rewards rather than upon our temporary defeats. As we choose joy over despair, betterness over bitterness, and encouragement over discouragement, peace and contentment begin to encompass our being. And our joy becomes complete. And we learn.

As parents, we learn to forgive ourselves, and to forgive one another, for the mistakes we make rearing our children. We learn how to find strength to persevere during those late nights and early mornings. We learn to cherish every moment with each child appreciating the unique gifts God has woven into them.

Children teach us how to overcome the stress in our life; how to laugh and giggle and shriek as we tear down the inhibitions in our life; how to make decisions as a team unified in purpose and mind.

Mom and Dad, do you remember how your eyes sparkled on your graduation day, on your Wedding day and on the day of the birth of your child? Now watch your children play and experience new things. Do you see the same sparkle? 1 Thes. 5:16 says: “Be joyful always.” God commands us to be joyful because He knows that every time we choose joy as our response to life’s pleasures and problems: we learn, we mature, we persevere. And our joy becomes complete!