unexpected joy

It's a gray day.  I woke up to rain on the windows and the cold wind buffeting the house.  The first day of winter is almost here and even amid all the Christmas cheer, a gray day can dampen my spirits.

 

I've been looking through our pictures from this past year and came across this cheerful reminder of warm and sunny days. 

 

 

As I remembered our garden filled with flowers a few months ago, a wistful sigh escaped when I gazed upon the brown and barren ground that fills that space right now.  I was reminded of this verse.

 

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

 ~ Isaiah 40:8

 

This verse prompted me to open my bible and search for verses containing the word joy and I came across this one,

 

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. ~Psalm 65:8

 

Even though the landscape outside may not be overflowing with color right now, I realized there is still beauty and joy.  The songs of birds can still be heard, the rain sparkling as it clings to the branches, the leaves tumbling on an adventure in the wind, the power of the wind itself.  All beautiful and joyful. 

 

There are tears of joy in my eyes.  The whole earth is filled with awe...  Even amidst the gray days, there is joy to be found.  I hope you will share my joy today even if you have to search for it in an unexpected place.