Rejoice Always

As we continue through the month at Path of Positivity, we are rejoicing! Grab a cup of coffee, tea, cocoa as I take you through my exploration of this word...REJOICE!

Rejoice...we hear it in the old Christmas carols, we read it in the Bible, and yet I seldom really think about what it means!  For me my first thought when I hear the word 'rejoice' is the carol I talked about in this post at the beginning of the month.  But what does the word rejoice really mean?  

I challenged myself to think about the origin of this French word.  Here is what I found:  Middle English (in the sense ‘cause joy to’): from Old French rejoiss-, lengthened stem of rejoir, from re- (expressing intensive force) + joir ‘experience joy’.

Interesting!  Now, my next thought is this:  What is the difference between joy and happiness?  Off to find an origin/definition for happy.  

Happy:  Middle English (in the sense ‘lucky’): from the noun hap¹ + -y¹.  

Definition:  feeling or showing pleasure or contentment *  fortunate and convenient * INFORMAL inclined to use a specified thing excessively or at random.

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Now this is where it got interesting for me!  There really is a huge difference between feeling joy and happiness even though I often interchange these words quite freely!  

I found the comparison of these words on Diffen fascinating as I researched and pondered these feelings/words.  It seems the difference I see over and over is happiness is temporary and based on outward influences, whereas joy is lasting and comes from peace and inward circumstances.   

I saw this quote from J.D. Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye, "The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid." 

 

Now, how do I apply this to my life right now?  

How do I rejoice when life seems so difficult currently?  Maybe through prayer/meditation of acceptance and giving thanks for what I do have instead of spending time pondering what I am missing.  These difficult times will not last forever and in that I find comfort and joy!  

Wishing you all great joy during this holiday season!   

Come share your ideas on this theme at Path of Positivity!  Or you maybe you would rather enter our AG.  Either is great as long as your project/post is inspiring, positive, or uplifting in some way!  

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Material List: 

Flower Mug in Coffee and Tea Section from Limited Runs

Copic Markers

Cardstock from CTMH

Adhesives:  Fabri Tac, ATG Tape Runner

Lace

Ribbon

CTMH Ink

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade

Cricut Access 

 Sharing with these challenges/pages: 

Through the Purple Haze:  Holiday - Make It Blue

Moving Along with the Times:  Winter Holidays are usually spent with family and friends drinking hot coffee and cocoa by the fire!  Lots of smiles and family time!

Jan's Digis:  AG

Colour Crazy:  AG hand colored

Christmas Craft Creations:  Winter Blues (Nothing says winter like hot chocolate in a winter mug!)

Crafty Creations:  AG

Sisterhood of Crafters:  AG Christmas/Winter

Crafts Galore Encore:  AG

International Art & Soul:  AG with a Bow

Be sure to come on over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team

thinks about our theme!

You can also find

more information

about entering

the challenge!

Thanks to our

wonderful sponsors this month:

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