Kim Gaskill reflects on joy from a rehab facility in Gilbert, Arizona, considering whether children find it in gifts themselves or in feeling cared for. She describes small pleasures like fresh air and birdsong, and visits from friends and family during the holiday season.
Good morning from Gilbert, Arizona. I'm Kim Gaskill and this is the Daily Spark. Joy. This time of year, I wish everyone had joy. I know everyone doesn't, but especially in a facility like this, there's not a lot of joy. Although yesterday on Christmas, It was really cool to see all the friends and family that came by and brought a little bit of joy to the people that are stuck here over the holidays. And if you look up joy in the definition of it, it's just something that brings you happiness or pleasure. And That could be so many different things. I mean, yesterday wasn't the best day, but I had them wheel me down to the little patio they have outside and just sitting outside, getting fresh air, listening to the birds sing, brought joy to my heart. And it was just a tiny thing, but it meant so much. Just like those visits for people yesterday. And then I was watching people's stories and they were sharing pictures and videos of themselves and their children opening gifts and baking cookies and singing. And, and that brought joy to my heart, watching everybody celebrate and have fun with friends and family. And I got to thinking, you know, when you're a kid and you get a present, right? That, that unadulterated joy that you see on a kid's face when they get that present, when they open up that present. It's like, oh my gosh, and they tear into it, they rip open the package, they see what it is, they get this look of joy, this pure pleasure on their face. And I'm thinking, is it because they're happy they got the toy? Or do they have that pure joy and happiness because they know someone loves them enough to get them a present? Think about it. What's really bringing the joy? The thing, the, the item, the, that toy or gift that they open, or the fact that they have one and someone cares enough about them to get them one? And that's the joy in their heart. They may not recognize it as a child. It might just be about the toy. And sometimes I think we don't recognize it either. It's not necessarily the joy of the thing or what's happening. It's the joy that we get from knowing that we're cared about enough. To get that thing or have that visit or make that smile. So think about that today. I hope you have joy, joy, joy this season. Catch me again tomorrow for another Daily Spark.
