Warding off thieves

Thomas and I were walking down the street in Barcelona, with the last bits of sun flecking over the water of the marina,  I was surrounded by a beautiful city full of culture.  I was able to see La Sagrada Familia earlier in the day, which was something I had desired since college, and I had just spent the afternoon watching a setting sun, sipping wine and eating grocery store cheese and crackers beside Thomas.  It was one of those times when "all was right with the world."  And there I was fretting to Thomas about something that someone had done that simultaneously hurting my feelings and making me angry.  With my mouth going 90 miles a minute and my fingers quickly picking away at my nails, I was in a full tizzy. And then Thomas stopped me.

He literally stopped me in the middle of the sidewalk, looked at me and said, "You're letting them steal your joy."

I was baffled, "What?"

"We've had a great day.  We're in Spain, which we've been looking forward too since last year.  We're doing exactly what we want to do, and you're letting this get to you, and now you can't enjoy it.  Stop it.  Don't let them steal your joy."

I thought about it for a second and he was right.  And it was stupid!

This week we finally made it back to our weekly Bible study, and the study this week was on contentment.  I wasn't particularly looking forward to it at first, but the more we got into the study, the more I felt it was meant for me.  Not everything in our life is perfect (far from, actually).  But I am learning that my joy is not and should not be dependent on other peoples' thoughts or actions.  And my contentment is not and should not be dependent on my current situation.  I am free to hope, dream, and enjoy, but I am also free to be content with exactly what I have and where I am right now.

The older I get, the more I realize that some people don't like to see other people happy, especially happier than they are.  And they WANT to do things to steal your joy.  And then there are some people who don't mean to steal your joy, but you let them do it anyway ... you just give your joy away without a fight.  That moment with Thomas made me realize that I don't want people actively in my life who are seeking to steal my joy, and even more than that, I don't want to keep giving my joy away.

In John 10 it says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

So, back off, you thieves!  I am claiming and enjoying my full life (and looking for the fullness even in the moments when it seems empty)!