Joy Moment

It was an ordinary moment, on an ordinary Wednesday, walking through the same doorway I walk through at least 100 times on any given day. Passing from the kitchen into the dining room this particular afternoon, stopped me in its tracks. There wasn’t anything necessarily extraordinary about our centerpiece of the dining room table. Fresh flowers from a Walmart bouquet filled a repurposed, previously gifted canister. They sat next to a wooden bowl filled with apples from Aldi. Both found themselves on top of a doily that I inherited from one of the beautiful women in my life years ago. The background reminding me of the unfinished trim task we have still yet to finish around the window. That sunlight though.

In THAT moment, I felt it coming. That unplanned curling of the lips. The signal to my brain that joy is being experienced. Of course, I did what anyone these days would do. I snapped a picture in an effort to capture that moment, freeze it in time, and revisit it as often as I like. Since this day, I have been reminded of advice I received once in a coaching call – take a picture everyday of something that brings you joy. She even further encouraged to create a photo album at the end of the year of the 365 joy moments. Will this be the year I take that advice?

We often hear, “we get what we focus on.” It makes sense, if we are continuously seeking that “joy moment,” then we will not only find one each day, but several competing moments for the coveted title of top joy moment of the day. I suppose these moments are equivalent, or could be in addition, to what my therapists (yes, I have had more than one over the years), life coaches, self-help books and podcasters have recommended with gratitude journals. It’s simply a visual representation of it.

Living in the fast paced, full calendared world that we do, it is easy to go through our days in survival mode, often even forgetting to breathe throughout the day. What if, in the midst of the chaos of a blessed life – yes, fast paced and full calendared can be blessed when filled with the right things taking up our time, we intentionally trained our minds to find the unplanned smiles. Even if a picture isn’t possible at that time, to take in the senses of the moment that bring that slight smirk upon your face. The sounds, the colors, the temperature in the air, or maybe it’s a texture visually or physically of a soft blanket or a new sweater. Or maybe it’s the steam and little design in a fresh pressed coffee that just brings calm that can’t quite be explained.

Why do I use the term “joy moment” vs a happy one? Put simply, happiness is temporary, and let’s be real – not all moments are happy. Joy however is deeper. It’s no wonder why it’s one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Joy is something that can be experienced amidst our situations. Joy brings peace within our circumstances. Joy is gratitude out loud. When we intentionally seek and choose it each day, that’s where the power is to root it even deeper in our soul. Acknowledging these joys brings me back to continuous conversation with our Creator as well. It’s impossible for me to feel joy, and not want to immediately go into gratitude, thanking Jesus for allowing me to have that experience, at that time.

Now it’s your turn. Do you have a practice you use each day to help keep you rooted in joy? I would love to hear about it! Personally, my daughter in law and I are creating an accountability snapchat streak to share our daily joys we capture with each other in 2026. It’s streaks with a purpose. If you know, you know.

If joy has been lacking in your life, I pray today is your day that you actively choose to seek it. Whether it's a freshly made bed, a good hair day, or the brief moment all the laundry baskets are empty. It's YOUR moment of joy. Nothing is too big or too small. And when you do find your moment, I would love to celebrate it with you.

Thank you for reading.