Today brings a bit of rejoicing for me. OK, today, my heart is rejoicing a lot.

It was one year ago today that I went to an event with my family. After driving more than 4 hours and being busy all day with my family, I walked in the door and thought, “What should I do now.” I stopped. What did I just think?

Tears – thankful, happy, joyful tears – started flowing. I immediately wrote my family. Typically a trip like that would have wiped me out for days if not a couple weeks. What? I had strength left? Now, I was so thankful and joyful that I didn’t get much done.

Psalm 122:1, “1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ps 122:1.

The next morning, I was still mobile and able to get out of bed. It was then that my youngest brother texted to let me know that the early service at his church, a church I had watched online for years, may be safe for me now that I had some strength. OH MY GOODNESS!!! Joyful tears flowed again. The thought of being able to go to church again overwhelmed me.

Note: I still have very abundant allergic reactions to common things and an immune system that is still weak. I still have to be very, very careful and selective every time I go out. As with any chronic illnesses, I still have weak days and still have to plan for recovery time. As my niece once told me, my good days are like someone else when they have the flu. Yet, I relish any strength and freedom that I have. Lack produces gratitude.

My church is somewhat incredible, in my opinion. Each week, God is using it to help me grow closer to Him, to love Him more, and to love people more. It is not a perfect church. (If it were, my attending there would have made it imperfect.) It is a church that loves God, His Word, and people. Even though I cannot attend as regularly as I would like, I am so grateful!

A few weeks later as I was singing in church, the joyful tears came again. A couple years before, we didn’t know if I would be able to sing again as my voice was failing. Music is my heart language. To be able to sing again literally brought tears to my eyes. To be able to sing with the saints makes my heart overflow. I may be the loudest (not best, but loudest) one in the song service.

This past year has been a tough and challenging one in so many ways. The next few weeks will be difficult and busy. Yet, each week, my bright spot is going to church to worship with my dear family of God.

Today, I am joyful as I look back on a year of attending in person church, worshipping with incredible people who understand tough journeys as they have walked them, and serving alongside them. Today, I praise our God for His grace in this little glimpse of Heaven. Today, my heart also remembers those of you who cannot attend in person and prays for you.

What makes you joyful today?