Rejoice!

Rejoice, art Monica Stewart

re·joice, verb, 1. to be glad; take delight: to rejoice in the happiness of another; 2. to make joyful; gladden: a song to rejoice the heart.

"You shall keep the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your G-d at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your G-d will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful."

~Deuteronomy 16:13-15

So, since tonight is the first night of Sukkot, let us fulfill the command of rejoicing before our LORD!  What, you don't have much to rejoice about?  In this modern day, life can be hard.  Really hard.  Jobs are hard to find, and when you find one, it can be a drudgery or worse.  Children are difficult and relationships seem to be harder than ever to keep together.  The economy is in the toilet and politically America seems to be sinking into a quagmire of bad decisions and worsening reputation.  But, Scripture says rejoice. For those of us diligently trying to obey the Holy One, it can be difficult.

Well, perhaps I can be of some assistance...

Rejoice in the LORD...always!

• Rejoice in the fact that we can breathe fresh air and for the food that graces our tables.
• Rejoice in the hugs from your children and the bed you can crawl into at night.
• Rejoice in the sweet kiss of your spouse and the paycheck that gets deposited into your bank account.
• Rejoice in the gas stations that have fuel to fill your vehicle.
• Rejoice in your freedom to play the music you like, whenever you like.
• Rejoice in the conversations you have with your close friends and the many ways to entertain ourselves (movies, TV, internet, music, theater, etc.)
• Rejoice at the many parks that we can enjoy and in the love of your parents.
• Rejoice in the next generation, that they will do it better than we did.
• Rejoice in the legacy past generations have left for us to ponder and analyze.
• Rejoice in those that have facilitated the maintaining and availability of the Bible.
• Rejoice in your favorite musician(s) and in all that proclaim the word of the LORD.
• Rejoice in the land of Israel and where you live, too.
• Rejoice in the ability to see, smell, taste and hear and in good hair days, clean clothes and kittens, puppies and babies that make you smile.
• Rejoice in warm welcomes, happy memories and belly laughs.
• Rejoice for the sharing of tears with a friend and trained medical professionals.
• Rejoice in excellent teaching and timely wisdom.
• Rejoice in the Torah, the prophets and the apostles.
• Rejoice in hobbies that give us pleasure and all the inventions that make our lives easier.
• Rejoice in that phone call that came at just the perfect moment and memories of voices that you will never hear again.
• Rejoice in the hope that lives within you.
• Rejoice for beautiful flowers, awe-inspiring trees and the expansion of glorious sky.
• Rejoice for the mountains and the seashores that give us a place to escape to.
• Rejoice in discount stores, cars that get good gas mileage and re-usable grocery bags.
• Rejoice in garbage pick-up and sewer systems that enable us to flush.
• Rejoice in the rain, in the sunshine and when you are warm down to your bones.
• Rejoice when you feel a sweet, cool breeze play with your hair.
• Rejoice in what you have been given and all that you are able to give.
• Rejoice in a good pair of boots that make you feel like a million bucks.
• Rejoice in all the inspiration you have received in your lifetime.
• Rejoice when you get to anticipate the arrival of someone you care about.
• Rejoice in the One who saves us all from the wages of sin.

Surely you can rejoice with at least a couple of those things!  Perhaps you can add a few more...

And again, I say REJOICE!

A hearty Chag Sameach! to all my beloved readers and those I am privileged to love, both near and far.  I wish you a joyous festival and never forget that I hold you in my heart, always.