Finding Joy

I'm spending a few nights at my friend's house, as she prepares for her first chemotherapy session tomorrow.Her 11-year-old is out in the living room watching TV. Now I know she has a geography test in the morning and, having done her studying, should be in bed. I imagine her parents would normally have something to say about this, but I'm here to help with that kind of thing. Except would I really relegate her to the dark of her room to lay in bed thinking about tomorrow? Would I dare deny her a few moments of escapist joy?It reminds me of the book Walk Two Moons where a secret message is sent that says, "In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?" That motto got me through my entire teen existence--and probably the college years as well. In the course of a lifetime, what will it matter what grade she gets on that geography test? Not the least bit.There is, of course, a comfort in maintaining a semblance of normality. But if the very definition of normal will be entirely mutated by tomorrow afternoon, who cares if there's a little bit of artificial joy to cling to tonight?I do believe real joy is yet to come. One Facebook status tonight reads: How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? There will be blessings to come of this. Already God is using this situation to touch lives and move hearts.God's joy is not artificial. It won't vanish when the television clicks off and the lights are dimmed and the only thing between us and the monsters seems to be the quilt on the bed. You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).Pray for us.