Joy #2

Psalm 30 verse 5 reminds me that "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning"  When conducting funerals, Bob often prays "that our grief may be neither overwhelming, nor unending" This is an encouragement to me - in these dull grey winter days, it would be easy to fall into the Slough of Despond and give into self-pity. 

I was struggling a bit in the middle of the week, and then the doorbell rang. There was Nick, our Pastor. He looked a little confused "This letter has arrived at the chapel, but addressed to you, so I thought I should bring it round" [What a kind bloke!] It was the most beautiful hand made Christmas card.

Exactly the word I needed to hear, right then, and inside it read

OK, it was a few days after Christmas- but what perfect timing. It comes all the way from New Brunswick In Canada. I had to look that up [it's just north of Vermont, which we visited in 2004] and was made by somebody who reads my blog.

Thank you so much, Judi, for making and sending it, and for the lovely letter too [Do please email me again - your original message hasn't arrived!] 
My Mum always counselled that "If you are feeling sorry for yourself, don't sit about moping, get up and do something good for somebody else" - and such actions usually result in a return of joy. I hope I can pass on the joy in the week ahead.  

And as I look again at the words inside the card, Joy's crafting has inspired me to think about perhaps making a start on creating my Christmas Cards for 25.12.22.