Joy = It’s good to be with you

He sits on my lap

happy and content

playing

chewing on the

colourful

beaded toy

looking around

but suddenly a look up 
and back

to check

to remember

that he is here with me

that he is not alone

And if we are here

together

then all is good

he doesn’t need
to be constantly entertained

some interaction

now and then is good

but he just needs to know

we are here

together

I am here

sitting on Your lap

surrounded by Your arms

Your care

I am safe

I forget sometimes

I know I am in Your presence

I don’t need the constant reminders

constant affirmation

I just need to know You are here

and when I do

it’s okay

I am here

safe in this life

as I rest on You

in You

I may feel like I’m falling

I may feel unsafe

it might hurt

it might be hard

but I am carried

I am safe

I’m okay

You are watching

holding

aware

You won’t let me fall

Now and again I look over my shoulder
and up at You

and am reassured of Your presence

here with me

and I am content


Written around August 26, 2012. Thanks Levi, for the chance to spend time with you, and for how much you teach me about life and God and so much that is good.

And where did the title of this post come from? In January this year I attended a seminar on The Immanuel Process (descriptions here and here). The process, though meant to lead us to healing, starts in the place of joy, and one description we learned of joy had to do with presence, that sense of being with someone else, especially with God, and "it's good to be with you".  When we are with someone we love, someone who loves us, that is joy. Finally "joy" and how we can get to and have joy in spite of trial and hardship made sense to me. That day sitting there with Levi...reminded me. It was joy, for him, for me, joy and contentment and peace...

Levi's Mom and Dad--yeah, this is joy too!