We all know how to avoid transmitting a cold virus: covering our coughs and sneezes, proper hand washing, and sanitizing surfaces. But what about contagious moods? Are you prepared to avoid catching a bad mood?

Ever notice how contagious a mood can be?

I spend a lot of my time with little people. (There are a bunch of them running around my house.) It is a great petri dish to observe the “contagious mood.”

All it takes is one wrong bump… a half snicker when someone drops something… a toy hastily grabbed from a sibling’s hand… a comfy spot quickly stolen on the couch… and the bad mood contagion is let loose and everyone is soon drawn into its clutches.

And unfortunately immunity to bad moods doesn’t naturally develop with age. We adults are susceptible to the contagious bad mood as well. And with all that falls apart in our friendships, workplaces, finances, home life, etc… it sure can be hard to look at this week of Advent and find the joy.

The saying goes that it takes more muscles to smile than to frown so it should be easier to smile. And, while the internet is full of articles, blogs and opinions on whether or not that is true… it is true that many people find joy and elusive thing to attain. Kind of: here today, gone tomorrow. Or better yet: here this second, gone the next.

Oh if only joy were contagious…

But isn’t it? Can’t it be?

Back to children… have you ever watched children with the giggles? How they just can’t stop?! Cover their mouth… hold their breath… make an angry face… it doesn’t matter: they can’t contain the giggles. And then another one gets it. Which moves the giggles into an all-out laugh and THEN you’re done for 🙂

Joy can be contagious too… if we haven’t hardened our hearts and become immune.

For many, it is hard NOT to become immune to joy. With all the pain, suffering, hardships and disappointments…  it can be hard to leave the door open to joy.

And if that is you, this Advent season, I am praying Romans 15:13 for you, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Scripture tells us that Jesus, because of the joy set before him, endured the cross… (Hebrews 12:2). JOY is POWERFUL even in the face of DARK circumstances, GREAT pain and seeming DESPAIR.  As we wait in Advent, for the celebration of the coming of our Savior, let us open our hearts to the JOY that Christ brings.

~Jillene

Joy To The World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods

Rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat the sound in joy

No more let sin and sorrow grow

Nor thorns infest the ground

He comes to make

His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found

Far as the curse is found

Far as, far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of his love

And wonders of his love

And wonders and wonders of his love