Picture of Joy

What might you use as an illustration of joy? A family reunion? A graduate with diploma in hand? A newborn baby? A boy with a fish dangling on his line? Or something as simple as a tiny nosegay of violets in a blue West Virginia glass pitcher?

In spite of evil, pain, darkness and despair, there is so much joy in this world. You can even find it illustrated in a television commercial.

A St. Jude Children’s Hospital ad gets my attention every time it comes on. A little girl, about three years old, stands with her back to the camera. Backpack on her shoulders, she’s obviously waiting, watching the driveway of her home. Her mother speaks from behind the camera. “He’s turning in the driveway. Here he comes!”

The little girl takes off running calling out with such joy, “Daddy! Daddy! We missed you! Daddy!” She leaps into her father’s arms snuggling into his embrace.

The next frame shows this little girl wriggling in her Daddy’s lap and reaching out with a small toy to interact with Mommy as well. Daddy says fondly and passionately something like, “We want our little girl to grow up happy and healthy, and always know her Mommy and Daddy love her.”

Of course the point is the need for donations to St. Jude’s to help this little girl and other young cancer patients survive. But what the ad brings to my mind every time is a picture of a helpless sinner, like me, running joyfully into the arms of Jesus.

If only we could express the same pure joy as that of the little St. Jude’s girl.

Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 (KJV)