An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:9-10
Everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10
You will fill me with joy in your presence. Psalm 16:11
Joy is a key theme in the Advent narrative and in our celebration of Christmas. But how does the ‘good news of great joy’ translate into our daily lives - in the mundane tasks, or in the busy weeks leading up to Christmas? We asked our Learning Network team to share what joy looks like for them at this time of year.
Anna: “Quiet December evenings, when I can snuggle up on the couch with a mug of tea, some good books and a movie adaptation of Little Women always bring me cosy Christmas-joy ✨”
Tom: “Here’s a photo of something that brings me joy — grandkids … and family in general. This one is the youngest of 10 grandkids. We were able to spend a few months around him and his twin siblings a few months ago. Tiring, but what joy.”
Victoria: “The advent calendar in this photo was made by a close friend’s great-grandmother, and has been handed down through generations. Living away from my extended family always brings up mixed emotions, especially around important dates and holidays - I constantly feel like I am missing out on the noisy family gatherings and traditions. Still, there is a rich joy that comes from sharing in others’ traditions, in offering and receiving hospitality. So for me, joy in this season is found in the day-to-day hospitality of friends, of community as family away from family.”
What does joy look like for you during this Advent season? Share with us on our Facebook or Instagram!