Joy Stealers

Last updated on: April 19, 2012 at 9:32 am by Bethany "B-mama"

Joy Stealers 2012-04-19T09:32:28-06:00 Bethany "B-mama"

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I just had the most unsettling exchange with a woman at the gym. She was rude. She was confrontational (even about topics on which we agreed!) She started my day on such a negative note.

She was a “joy stealer”, as my mom likes to call them. Joy stealers are those people, interactions, situations that just sap the joy out of one’s life. They take it and hoard it. They are the bushels that hide the light in the “This Little Light of Mine” song. They are Joy Stealers and I struggle with them.

My immediate reaction was to walk away from the conversation. I could see it going nowhere and this lady was bringing me down fast. We parted ways without a goodbye. My second reaction was to tell someone else about it. To externally process the conversation is my way of dealing with things, but there was no one around with whom to process. So where to go next? After this I wanted to chase her down and tell her what a downer she was, how she had stolen my joy and I was angry about it! She was nowhere to be seen.

As I was walking with my daughter to the car, I realized what I really needed to do in this moment. I needed to pray.

I needed to lift up this woman, this joy stealer, because I recognize she needs love. She needs more joy in her life. She needs Christ.

And so do I. Every day. He is the Source of my Joy and without Him, I am nothing. Without Him, I surely can steal joy from others as well. Above all, I am called to love this woman, to minister to her, and show my Joy so that she might partake of that goodness. What a challenge when all I really feel like doing is yelling at her!

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Keeping It Real

Miscellaneous

Previous Post

April 18, 2012

Open Forum: Pick my stroller!

Next Post

April 21, 2012 The Call to Hospitality: "Houseguests are Like Fish"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Builders' Favorite Posts Children Education & Homeschool Food and Nutrition Health Home Organization Inside Our Inbox Keeping It Real Liturgical Seasons Marriage Miscellaneous Motherhood and Parenting Nature and the Environment NFP and Fertility Politics and Current Events Pregnancy Recipes Spiritual Life The Catholic Church Thoughts for Thursday Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elisha Isaiah Elijah Jeremiah