Joy…

Joy…

Joy does not always announce itself.

Sometimes it is obvious…a new grandbaby, a family celebration, a trip somewhere beautiful. Other times it is so ordinary that I could miss it if I am not paying attention.

A brush loaded with exactly the right mixture of color. A mountain that works on the first try. The smell of oil paint in my painting space. A photo from one of my children. A conversation with a friend. A sunset that makes me stop what I am doing because the sky looks like someone painted it.

I used to think happiness depended on life being settled. If everything was okay, then I could relax and enjoy it. Life has thoroughly disproven that theory.

There can be joy in the middle of uncertainty. There can be laughter during a difficult season. There can be beauty while something else is falling apart.

Painting reminds me of this because even the darkest landscapes need light. In fact, the light often looks brighter because the dark is there.

I am learning not to postpone joy until everything is perfect. I would be waiting forever. Instead, I want to notice it when it shows up. And thankfully…it shows up more often than I realized.