ivating Joy There are numerous benefts to a joyful life. A study in the Journal of Neurology reported that happy people are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies have found that happy people are less likely to develop colds or to die prematurely. Joyful people attract other people and also tend to be more successful. Christian joy doesn’t require people to be happy every moment. Rather, it’s an optimism that underscores everything and the security of knowing that this is God’s beautiful world and he cares for us. That doesn’t mean hard times won’t come, but when they do we’re consistently buoyed by the conviction that God loves us and controls all things. If you watch children at play, you can both hear and see their joy. Children fully enjoy the moment. They don’t think about yesterday or tomorrow. When they’re playing, they’re fully focused on the here and now. They don’t worry about the future or dwell on the past. But with time, as adult responsibilities press down on us, we tend to lose that joyful enthusiasm. How can we help our children maintain their inborn exuberance and love for life? How to Cultivate Joy One way to cultivate joy in children is to model it. Emulate children at play and focus on whatever you do with full awareness and enjoyment. Use all of your senses to savor the things that bring you pleasure, and indulge in simple pleasures frequently. With your children, be open to spontaneous fun. Life is full of adventure and opportunity. When the door opens on a new possibility, walk through it. Even if it’s a disaster, use it as a chance to laugh and to learn something new. Choose to be joyful. Your happiness is your own responsibility. A Publication of Christian Schools International | Spring 2014 21