When my grandfather died in 2006, my coworkers gave me a pothos to express their condolences, and I promptly named her “Joy”—on purpose. (I recently found out that another name for the pathos is “devil’s ivy.” Ironic, right?) Amazingly, Joy is still alive and thriving despite periods of unintentional non-watering, being sourced for clippings that have and have not survived (One of them has survived and is several-years-old. Her name is Joy, Junior!), and other periods when even caring for a plant was one-more-thing-to-do and even that little bit was too much for my weary soul to bear. Every day Joy tells me, “Don’t be a killjoy,” and this applies to others and myself.
What is a "killjoy," you ask? A killjoy is defined as someone who deliberately tries to spoil, destroy, contest, or snuff out the joy, pleasure, happiness and delight of others. The killjoy's aim and evil goal is to make sure that you don't shine! Do you know anyone like that?
Yes, through it all, by God’s grace, Joy is still here.
Joy is here.
Joy is here because she intentionally turns herself to seize every bit of sunlight that she can in her little corner of the world.
Joy is here because she has roots and those roots go and grow deep and close, and they celebrate and utilize every drop that life gives them.
Joy is grounded.
Joy is fully capable of taking enough sustenance from what she is given—and taking if not given—to keep on going and growing.
Joy will hold on as long as Monica holds on.
And, yes, though it all, by God’s grace, Monica is still here.
Monica is here.
Monica is here because she intentionally turns herself to seize every bit of sunlight that she can in her little corner of the world.
Monica is here because she has roots and those roots go and grow deep and close, and they celebrate and utilize every drop that life gives them.
Monica is grounded.
Monica is fully capable of taking enough sustenance from what she is given—and taking if not given—to keep on going and growing.
Monica will hold onto her joy even if joy tries to slip from her.
Feel free to insert your own name or whatever pronouns or descriptors you need, and assert your own joy today and everyday, beloveds. Maybe, this will be an affirmation and declaration of your intent to have “joy anyhow.”
Hold onto your Joy, and if anyone or anything takes it from you, catch it before they kill it! Do what my Moma and them used to say, “Run after them like somebody stole something worth something from you,” because they "sho nuff" did!
Blessings, peace, and JOY belong to you! Grab them and grow them!