A Joyful Dreamer

Perhaps one of the most important questions we must ask ourselves daily is, “What gives me the most joy in my life?” I caution that this is very different from,  “What gives me the most pleasure in life?” What I am talking about is pure, heart-fulfilling, overabounding joy. Joy that sustains us and leads us to step outside of ourselves in order that we may strive to live for the lives of others. I am a firm believer that God has instilled within each one of us a desire to become the very best version of ourselves, and when we take a moment to sit down and dream do we realize how much life there is for us.

For some, like my youngest sister, Melanie, when we close our eyes and imagine what will give us the most joy in life we imagine ourselves in a classroom giving our love to twenty-six bright-eyed second graders who await our every word – so impressionable, so eager to learn. For others, our greatest dream may be to raise children – to sacrifice day in and day out so that our kids grow up happy and well adjusted with healthy perspective of the world. Still for others your  dream might be to become a lawyer, a businessman, a pilot, an investment banker. Your dream might be to roam the world traveling wherever God leads you – no destination in mind but with a heart that yearns to grow and understand many different ways of life and to trust that God will use you no matter where you are.

It does not matter what we do, but it does matter how we do it. Galatians 5:22-23 states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” When we live in the Spirit these gifts spring forth from our lives as wellsprings of life that others may see our joy and seek to obtain that joy for themselves. A vocation lived out with passion and joy will not only inspire others to do the same, but will begin to heal the fragile souls of those lives you are touching with your work. A joyful smile goes a long way. 

We are never too old to do something new, something that will give us greater joy, something that will help us to become the best version of ourselves. I urge you to take time out of your busy day  today to ask yourself the very question, “What will give me the most joy in life?” It may turn out that your dream is the very thing you find yourself doing at this moment, but for many of us that will not be the case. Ask God to help illuminate this dream for you, ask Him to guide you and make it become a reality. When our dreams are aligned with God’s will for our lives, this is when we will feel most alive, most joyful, and most fulfilled.