JOY!

Today I’m working at home, preparing the final review lectures for all of my fall semester classes. It’s cold in my basement office (I need to finish that basement!) so I brought my laptop upstairs, built a fire in the fireplace, and started plugging away. My wife is at work and my youngest son, Garrett (4 years old), is home until noon, when he heads off to preschool. Garrett came by and gave me a big bear hug, and as I picked him up and turned around I saw the word “JOY” spelled out in Christmas candle-holders my wife placed over the mantle. Joy in the light of the fire, Joy in the warmth of this home, Joy in doing productive work, Joy in my little boy’s bear hug, Joy in the baby born on Christmas day!