Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Barbara Johnson was the founder of Spatula Ministries, a coauthor of various Women of Faith devotionals, and the author of numerous bestselling books, including Boomerang Joy, Living Somewhere between Estrogen and Death, and Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy.

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Daily Splashes of Joy

W Publishing Group

Chapter One

Splashing Each Day with Joy

Oh, that we all might have the happy demeanor ofan old lady in the nursing home where my sister, Janet,visits to play the piano for the residents. One week thefeisty, ninety-three-year-old woman told Janet, "I wakeup in the morning, sit on the edge of the bed, put myfeet on the floor, and say to myself, `I know who I am... I know what day it is. And then I say, `Well, PRAISEthe Lord!'"

    Starting each morning with an attitude of gratitude?nomatter what the circumstances?can splash joy overthe rest of your day. The moment your eyelids flutteropen, remind yourself to whisper the old lady's jubilantprayer: Praise the Lord! Say it out loud with a smile onyour face, and you might just be surprised at the differenceit makes in your morning.

    Force yourself to smile as you make your way tothe bathroom so that when you catch a glimpse ofyourself in the mirror, you're ready for that first laughof the day. (This may be easier for some of you thanothers, depending on what appears in that mirror!)Look for joy gems sparkling in all the dark corners asthe hours pass.

January 2

A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life.
(Proverbs 14:30 TLB)

Some people spread joy wherever they go?whetheror not they mean to! And some of ushave to put forth a little effort to keep a smile in ourhearts. Others are never happy unless they're complainingabout something. I got a note from a womanwho had a friend like that. Luckily, the woman whowrote to me could see the humor even in having sucha pessimistic friend. She wrote, "My friend Irene isalways complaining! I took her to a greeting-card storethe other day, and she looked and looked and looked.

    "Finally, I said, `Irene, what in the world are youlooking for?'

    "She replied, `I'm looking for a card that says, "I hadwhat you've got?only WORSE?"'"

    This is the same witty woman who told me herhoroscope predicted one morning that she was goingto have an adventure involving water. "And then," shecontinued, "I dropped my false teeth in the toilet!"

I am wonderful, marvelous, extraspecial, unique, first-rate,exceptional, outrageous, surprising, superlative?and,above all, HUMBLE.

January 3

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.... The LORD is a warrior; the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:2?3)

Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly thanhardening of the arteries.

January 4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

I talk to many gals who go through the year withoutreceiving a nice, gift-wrapped present withtheir own name on it. There is a fabulous remedy forthis problem. Right after the first of the year (whenmost stores have sales) find a store that sells nice littlegifts and does courtesy gift-wrapping. Pick out at leastfive presents for yourself to cover your birthday, Valentine'sDay, Mother's Day, wedding anniversary, andChristmas. They needn't be costly, but they should besomething you like.

    Bring your presents home and place them aroundthe house in prominent spots where you'll have tomove them as you clean. That way they get shiftedaround so much you'll forget what is in which package.Then each one is a surprise when you open it! Thisidea works beautifully. When anyone asks you whatyour husband gave you for your birthday or anniversaryor your kids gave you for Mother's Day, you canproudly show them the lovely gift that you "received."(You don't have to tell everything you know!)

Life is a gift. Unwrap your present!

January 5

He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15 NKJV)

One day I noticed a car parked at the La Habrapost office with a license plate that said, "2 BUMNEZ." I thought, That's so cute?the guy probably hasarthritis or something.

    As I tore around the car with my arms full of thingsto mail, I called out, "Oh, I just LOVE your licenseplate!" Someone was helping him out of the car andsuddenly I saw that he didn't have any legs! Talk abouthoof-and-mouth disease! But he put me at ease by saying,"I'm glad you like it. My wife said I should get onethat says, `NO LEGS,' but I would rather have folks geta chuckle out of it like you did than have them feelsorry for me."

    I love that dear man's attitude. It beautifully illustratesone of my favorite mottoes: Pain is inevitable butmisery is optional!

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year'sresolutions.

January 6

How well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. (Ephesians 1:8 TLB)

It was one of those days when everything had gonewrong. Preparing to leave town for a speakingengagement, I hurried to the supermarket to-stock upon a few things I would need for the trip. Naturally, Igot a dumb basket with wheels going in different directions.As I made my way to the checkout counter, I feltcompletely forsaken when I saw the checkout line filledwith women who apparently were shopping for theU.S. Army.

"Please, Lord!" I prayed. "I need just a LITTLE encouragement today."

    Just then a man stepped into an empty checkoutstand and said, "Young lady, I'll be glad to check youout over here!"

    I looked around. Then I looked at the clerk. Why, hewas talking to me!

    Maybe it was the young lady part that lifted my spirits.But mostly I think it was knowing I wasn't forsaken.I believe he opened that line just for me. What asimple way to be reminded of God's continual care.

Frogs have it easy. They can eat what's bugging them!

January 7

Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith. (1 Peter 1:6 TLB)

We can hope for a miracle, but there is no simple,quick way to be young, thin, and lovely. As theyears zoom by, you begin to think you're in a war tokeep your mind together, your body functioning, yourteeth in, your hair on, and your weight off. It can reallybe a chore. It's a lot like trying to hold a beachballunder water ... sooner or later something pops up orout! That's why my favorite excuse is, "I used to beSnow White ... but I drifted!"

Aging gracefully means living long enough to make ajoke of the things that were once breaking your heart.

January 8

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew...