Pure Joy
Candace Payne, a wife of nearly 15 years and the mother
of two children, posted a video for her friends on Facebook of her unboxing a
Chewbacca mask and laughing hysterically.
Her video with the caption “It’s the simple joys in life” has gone viral
with the number of viewers approaching 150 million at the time of this
writing. This number does not include
the “shares” and the discussions that have gone on world-wide. See the Facebook video here: https://www.facebook.com/candaceSpayne/videos/10209653193067040/
What is it about her video that has captured so much
attention?
I think it’s pure joy.
Payne recently shared how she came to buy the mask at
Kohl’s: “I honestly wasn’t there for the
mask,” Payne told Good Morning America.
“I was there for myself for some yoga pants because I’m trying to work
out more. And it’s not really going that
well, but I ended up going to the toy section because I got discouraged about
the yoga pants and I thought, ‘Maybe not today.
But I can get a toy for my kids.’
And I walk through the toy section and I accidentally bumped my shoulder
into this box. And I had seen this
before, but I didn’t realize it made sounds until that moment. It accidentally started making the growl, and
I went, ‘I need to get that. Like, I
don’t think my kids need that; I think I need that.’”
She was so excited about her find, that a few minutes
later in her car, she couldn’t resist opening the box and putting on the
Chewbacca mask while making a Facebook video for her friends. She enjoyed it so much that she erupted in
jubilant laughter, and it was her joy that has become infectious.
Candace shared on Good Morning America that the best note
she received as a result of her video is from a mom who has a daughter with
autism who laughed over and over for the first time in over two months as she
watched Candace’s hilarious stunt. “From
one mama heart to another mama, to see a child laugh that you haven’t seen
laugh, those are the stories that I’m going to take with me every day,” said
Candace. *
Now consider the source of true, abiding joy… It is found in Jesus.
The Apostle Peter wrote a letter to some Christians who
were undergoing intense persecution (1 Peter 1:6-7). Yet, he acknowledged that they had true joy
even in dire circumstances: “Though you
have not seen Him (Jesus), you love Him; and even though you do not see Him
now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1
Peter 1:8-9).
That true, abiding joy comes from knowing that through
Jesus, we are cleansed of our sins, reconciled to God, and on our way to
heaven!
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”
(John 3:16).
Joy is the byproduct of salvation in Christ. When a man from Ethiopia learned about Jesus
from Philip and was baptized into Christ, he “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts
8:36-39).
God will save and give eternal life to those who place
their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are
baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those
who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). True joy comes from knowing Christ.
Won’t YOU trust and obey Jesus today? Then, YOU can know true joy!
-- David A. Sargent
* From “‘Chewbacca Mom’ Shares The REAL Reason Her Video
Blew Up The Internet” by Hillary at www.qpolitical.com
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